City of Nevada City
City Council
REGULAR MEETING
City Hall – Beryl P. Robinson, Jr. Conference Room
317 Broad Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
WEDNESDAY September 13, 2023 6:30 P.M.
MISSION STATEMENT
The City of Nevada City is dedicated to preserving and enhancing its small-town character and historical architecture while providing quality public services for our current and future residents, businesses, and visitors.
Daniela Fernández, Mayor
Gary Petersen, Vice Mayor Doug Fleming, Council Member
Adam Kline, Council Member Lou Ceci, Council Member
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC:
The public is encouraged to participate in or observe this meeting by:
1. Attending this meeting in person at the City of Nevada City Council Chambers located at 317 Broad Street Nevada City, California.
2. Observing this meeting live from the City of Nevada City YouTube channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXSQwrXtey12YIl3IbyGMYQ
3. Observe this meeting live from the local government cable channel 17 Public comments may be made:
1. In person: Live at the meeting. Members of the public desiring to speak on a matter appearing on the agenda should ask the Mayor for the opportunity to be heard when the item comes up for Council consideration. Comments for all agenda items are limited to a speaking time of three minutes.
2. Via Zoom: If you choose to join the City Council Meeting via Zoom video conference you will be able to utilize “Raise Hand”. If joining by internet:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89009138474 If joining by telephone: Dial 1-669-900-9128 Webinar ID: 890 0913 8474, dial *9 (push the asterisks button followed by the five button) to “Raise Hand”. The Mayor will call on those who wish to speak at the appropriate time, not to exceed three minutes.
3. In writing: Email your comments to [email protected] Comments will be accepted until 7pm on the Monday prior to the meeting date. Comments will not be read during the City Council meeting (due to virtual participation option above) but will be forwarded to all Council Members prior to the City Council Meeting, so they have time to read them before to the meeting time. When sending an email, it is extremely helpful to include the following:
• Full Name
• Address (specific or general, i.e.: resident in unincorporated Nevada City) • The item number that you are commenting on
Any writing that is a public record that relates to an agenda item for open session distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting will be available for public inspection at City Hall, 317 Broad Street, Nevada City, California during normal business hours. Government Code § 54957.5(b)(1). Copies will also be provided at the appropriate meeting.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Deputy City Clerk at 530-265-0187 Extension 133. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102.35.104 ADA Title II].
CALL TO ORDER
NISENAN TRIBE RECOGNITION: This City Council Meeting Convenes On the Ancestral Territories of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL _____ Mayor Fernández
_____ Vice-Mayor Petersen
_____ Councilmember Fleming
_____ Councilmember Kline
_____ Councilmember Ceci
MEETING PROCEDURES: All items on agenda will be open for public comments before final action is taken. Citizens wishing to introduce written material into the record at the public meeting on any item are requested to provide a copy of the written material to the Deputy City Clerk prior to the meeting date so that the material may be distributed to the City Council prior to the meeting.
Speakers must restrict comments to the item as it appears on the agenda and stay within a threeminute time limit (or lesser time if the Mayor determines it necessary due to the number of persons who may wish to speak on an item). The Mayor similarly has the discretion of limiting the total discussion time for an item as may be necessary.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA (This is the time for agenda modifications) ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION (if needed)
PRESENTATIONS
Proclamation: National Hispanic Heritage Month 2023
Proclamation: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 2023
PUBLIC COMMENT: Government Code Section 54954.3 provides that any member of the public may address the City Council on any matter NOT ON THE AGENDA that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the city. The Brown Act, with limited exceptions, does not allow the Council or staff to discuss issues brought forth under Public Comment. The Council cannot take action on non-agenda items. Concerns may be referred to staff or placed on a future agenda. Please note that comments from the public will also be taken on each agenda item at the time it is heard. Speakers must restrict comments to the item as it appears on the agenda and stay within a three-minute time limit (or lesser time if the Mayor determines it necessary due to the number of persons who may wish to speak on an item). The Mayor similarly has the discretion of limiting the total discussion time for an item as may be necessary.
CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Council or staff has requested a change under Adoption of the Agenda, in which case the item will be removed for separate consideration. Any item so removed will be taken up following the motion to approve the Consent Agenda
1. Action Minutes August 23, 2023, Regular Meeting
Recommended Action: Review and approve the minutes
2. Accounts Payable – August 2023
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report
3. Police Activity Report August 2023
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report
4. Building Activity Report August 2023
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report
CONSENT ITEMS FORWARD (if needed): Items pulled from the Consent Agenda will be discussed individually with action taken by separate motion.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: Notice to the Public
The City Council, when considering the matter scheduled for hearing, will take the following actions:
a) Open the Public Hearing
b) Presentation by Staff
c) Presentation by Applicant or Appellant (if applicable) d) Accept Public Testimony
e) Applicant or Appellant Rebuttal Period (if applicable) f) Close the Public Hearing
g) Council Comments and questions
h) Council Action
Once the hearing is closed, no further public comment will be taken. If you wish to challenge in court any of the matters on this agenda for which a public hearing is to be conducted, you may be limited to raising only those issues which you, or someone else, raised orally at the public hearing or in written correspondence received by the city at or before the public hearing.
Public hearings listed for continuance will be continued as noted and posting of this agenda serves as notice of continuance. Any matter not noted for continuance will be posed separately.
5. Conduct a Public Hearing in Consideration of Adoption of Resolution 2023-42: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Nevada City, California, Determining the Initial Study and Negative Declaration (IS/ND) is Adequate and Approving General Plan Amendment GPA 2023-01 Adopting the 2023 Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element (CAPSE) of the General Plan
Recommended Action: Conduct a public hearing considering the inclusion of provided comments and adopt the resolutions
6. Conduct a Public Hearing in Consideration of Ordinance 2023-09: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Nevada City Adding Chapter 2.38 (“Public Arts Commission”) to Title 2 (“Administration and Personnel”) of the City of Nevada City Municipal Code, Relating to the Establishment of a Public Arts Commission Recommended Action: Hold first reading, waive reading of Ordinance in its entirety, read by title only, and schedule for second reading and adoption September 27, 2023
BUSINESS
7. Consideration of a Plaque Request from the Nevada County Landmarks Commission for the Carter Drummond Family Homesite
Recommended Action: Approve the application and authorize the City Manager to sign the application
8. Consideration of Adoption of Resolution 2023-41: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Nevada City, California, Updating the City Council Standards and Procedures Manual for Public Requests to Consider Consent Items for Discussion and for Disruptive Behavior at Meetings Procedures
Recommended Action: Adopt the resolution
9. Consideration of Adoption of Resolution 2023-43: Electing to be Subject to the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act at an Unequal Amount for Employees and Annuitants (CalPERS all Employees) and Consideration of Adoption of Resolution 2023-44: Electing to be Subject to the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act at an Unequal Amount for Employees and Annuitants (Non PERS Elected Officials).
Recommended Action: Adopt the resolutions
CITY MANAGER, COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting will adjourn at 9:30 P.M. unless a decision is made by motion of a Councilmember to extend the time.
Certification of Posting of Agenda
I, Sean Grayson, City Manager for the City of Nevada City, declare that the foregoing agenda for the September 13, 2023, Regular Meeting of the Nevada City City Council was posted September 8, 2023, at the entrance of City Hall. The agenda, along with staff reports, is also posted on the City’s website.
Signed September 8, 2023, at Nevada City, California
____________________________________________________
Sean Grayson, City Manager
City of Nevada City
City Council
REGULAR MEETING
City Hall – Beryl P. Robinson, Jr. Conference Room
317 Broad Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
WEDNESDAY September 13, 2023 6:30 P.M.
MISSION STATEMENT
The City of Nevada City is dedicated to preserving and enhancing its small-town character and historical architecture while providing quality public services for our current and future residents, businesses, and visitors.
Daniela Fernández, Mayor
Gary Petersen, Vice Mayor Doug Fleming, Council Member
Adam Kline, Council Member Lou Ceci, Council Member
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC:
The public is encouraged to participate in or observe this meeting by:
1. Attending this meeting in person at the City of Nevada City Council Chambers located at 317 Broad Street Nevada City, California.
2. Observing this meeting live from the City of Nevada City YouTube channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXSQwrXtey12YIl3IbyGMYQ
3. Observe this meeting live from the local government cable channel 17 Public comments may be made:
1. In person: Live at the meeting. Members of the public desiring to speak on a matter appearing on the agenda should ask the Mayor for the opportunity to be heard when the item comes up for Council consideration. Comments for all agenda items are limited to a speaking time of three minutes.
2. Via Zoom: If you choose to join the City Council Meeting via Zoom video conference you will be able to utilize “Raise Hand”. If joining by internet:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89009138474 If joining by telephone: Dial 1-669-900-9128 Webinar ID: 890 0913 8474, dial *9 (push the asterisks button followed by the five button) to “Raise Hand”. The Mayor will call on those who wish to speak at the appropriate time, not to exceed three minutes.
3. In writing: Email your comments to [email protected] Comments will be accepted until 7pm on the Monday prior to the meeting date. Comments will not be read during the City Council meeting (due to virtual participation option above) but will be forwarded to all Council Members prior to the City Council Meeting, so they have time to read them before to the meeting time. When sending an email, it is extremely helpful to include the following:
• Full Name
• Address (specific or general, i.e.: resident in unincorporated Nevada City) • The item number that you are commenting on
Any writing that is a public record that relates to an agenda item for open session distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting will be available for public inspection at City Hall, 317 Broad Street, Nevada City, California during normal business hours. Government Code § 54957.5(b)(1). Copies will also be provided at the appropriate meeting.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Deputy City Clerk at 530-265-0187 Extension 133. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102.35.104 ADA Title II].
CALL TO ORDER
NISENAN TRIBE RECOGNITION: This City Council Meeting Convenes On the Ancestral Territories of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL _____ Mayor Fernández
_____ Vice-Mayor Petersen
_____ Councilmember Fleming
_____ Councilmember Kline
_____ Councilmember Ceci
MEETING PROCEDURES: All items on agenda will be open for public comments before final action is taken. Citizens wishing to introduce written material into the record at the public meeting on any item are requested to provide a copy of the written material to the Deputy City Clerk prior to the meeting date so that the material may be distributed to the City Council prior to the meeting.
Speakers must restrict comments to the item as it appears on the agenda and stay within a threeminute time limit (or lesser time if the Mayor determines it necessary due to the number of persons who may wish to speak on an item). The Mayor similarly has the discretion of limiting the total discussion time for an item as may be necessary.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA (This is the time for agenda modifications) ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION (if needed)
PRESENTATIONS
Proclamation: National Hispanic Heritage Month 2023
Proclamation: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 2023
PUBLIC COMMENT: Government Code Section 54954.3 provides that any member of the public may address the City Council on any matter NOT ON THE AGENDA that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the city. The Brown Act, with limited exceptions, does not allow the Council or staff to discuss issues brought forth under Public Comment. The Council cannot take action on non-agenda items. Concerns may be referred to staff or placed on a future agenda. Please note that comments from the public will also be taken on each agenda item at the time it is heard. Speakers must restrict comments to the item as it appears on the agenda and stay within a three-minute time limit (or lesser time if the Mayor determines it necessary due to the number of persons who may wish to speak on an item). The Mayor similarly has the discretion of limiting the total discussion time for an item as may be necessary.
CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Council or staff has requested a change under Adoption of the Agenda, in which case the item will be removed for separate consideration. Any item so removed will be taken up following the motion to approve the Consent Agenda
1. Action Minutes August 23, 2023, Regular Meeting
Recommended Action: Review and approve the minutes
2. Accounts Payable – August 2023
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report
3. Police Activity Report August 2023
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report
4. Building Activity Report August 2023
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report
CONSENT ITEMS FORWARD (if needed): Items pulled from the Consent Agenda will be discussed individually with action taken by separate motion.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: Notice to the Public
The City Council, when considering the matter scheduled for hearing, will take the following actions:
a) Open the Public Hearing
b) Presentation by Staff
c) Presentation by Applicant or Appellant (if applicable) d) Accept Public Testimony
e) Applicant or Appellant Rebuttal Period (if applicable) f) Close the Public Hearing
g) Council Comments and questions
h) Council Action
Once the hearing is closed, no further public comment will be taken. If you wish to challenge in court any of the matters on this agenda for which a public hearing is to be conducted, you may be limited to raising only those issues which you, or someone else, raised orally at the public hearing or in written correspondence received by the city at or before the public hearing.
Public hearings listed for continuance will be continued as noted and posting of this agenda serves as notice of continuance. Any matter not noted for continuance will be posed separately.
5. Conduct a Public Hearing in Consideration of Adoption of Resolution 2023-42: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Nevada City, California, Determining the Initial Study and Negative Declaration (IS/ND) is Adequate and Approving General Plan Amendment GPA 2023-01 Adopting the 2023 Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element (CAPSE) of the General Plan
Recommended Action: Conduct a public hearing considering the inclusion of provided comments and adopt the resolutions
6. Conduct a Public Hearing in Consideration of Ordinance 2023-09: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Nevada City Adding Chapter 2.38 (“Public Arts Commission”) to Title 2 (“Administration and Personnel”) of the City of Nevada City Municipal Code, Relating to the Establishment of a Public Arts Commission Recommended Action: Hold first reading, waive reading of Ordinance in its entirety, read by title only, and schedule for second reading and adoption September 27, 2023
BUSINESS
7. Consideration of a Plaque Request from the Nevada County Landmarks Commission for the Carter Drummond Family Homesite
Recommended Action: Approve the application and authorize the City Manager to sign the application
8. Consideration of Adoption of Resolution 2023-41: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Nevada City, California, Updating the City Council Standards and Procedures Manual for Public Requests to Consider Consent Items for Discussion and for Disruptive Behavior at Meetings Procedures
Recommended Action: Adopt the resolution
9. Consideration of Adoption of Resolution 2023-43: Electing to be Subject to the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act at an Unequal Amount for Employees and Annuitants (CalPERS all Employees) and Consideration of Adoption of Resolution 2023-44: Electing to be Subject to the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act at an Unequal Amount for Employees and Annuitants (Non PERS Elected Officials)
Recommended Action: Adopt the resolutions
CITY MANAGER, COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting will adjourn at 9:30 P.M. unless a decision is made by motion of a Councilmember to extend the time.
Certification of Posting of Agenda
I, Sean Grayson, City Manager for the City of Nevada City, declare that the foregoing agenda for the September 13, 2023, Regular Meeting of the Nevada City City Council was posted September 8, 2023, at the entrance of City Hall. The agenda, along with staff reports, is also posted on the City’s website.
Signed September 8, 2023, at Nevada City, California
____________________________________________________
Sean Grayson, City Manager
PROCLAMATION
National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 – October 15, 2023
WHEREAS, National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationwide from September 15th through October 15th each year; and
WHEREAS, the observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, to cover the month at which it is celebrated today; and WHEREAS, understanding that September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and 18, respectively; and WHEREAS, Hispanic heritage holds an indelible place in the heart and soul of our Nation, and National Hispanic Heritage Month reminds us that the American identity is a fabric of diverse traditions and stories woven together; and
WHEREAS, in the words of Cesar Chavez “Preservation of one’s own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures”; and
WHEREAS, during National Hispanic Heritage Month, we reaffirm that diversity is one of our country’s greatest strengths; and
WHEREAS, during National Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate Hispanic culture, honor the invaluable ways Hispanics contribute to our common goals, and work toward a stronger, more inclusive, more prosperous society for all;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Nevada City does hereby recognize September 15 through October 15, 2023, as National Hispanic Heritage Month and encourage all citizens to recognize the significance of Hispanic Heritage and history in our nation and City.
Dated this 13th day of September 2023
______________________________________
Daniela Fernández, Mayor
PROCLAMATION
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month September 2023
WHEREAS, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men; and
WHEREAS, one in eight men have a lifetime probability of developing prostate cancer. One in eight women also have a lifetime probability of developing breast cancer; and WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society estimates there will be 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer in the USA in 2023, resulting in an estimated 34,700 deaths; and WHEREAS, it is estimated 26,970 men in California will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and it is estimated 4,970 California men will die from this disease this year; and WHEREAS, the incidence of prostate cancer is more than 70% higher in Black men than White men for reasons that remain unclear; and
WHEREAS, risk factors for prostate cancer are increasing age, African ancestry, a family history of the disease, and certain inherited genetic conditions; and
WHEREAS, the 5-year survival rate approaches 100% when prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated early, but drops to 32% when it spreads to the other parts of the body; and WHEREAS, Early-stage prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. Late-stage prostate cancer commonly spreads to the bones and causes pain in several areas of the body.
WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society recommends that men have a conversation with their health care provider and make an informed decision about whether to be tested for prostate cancer; and WHEREAS, the City of Nevada City joins communities across our nation to increase the awareness about the importance for men to make an informed decision with their health care provider about early detection and testing for prostate cancer;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Nevada City does hereby recognize September 2023 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in our nation and City.
Dated this 13th day of September 2023
______________________________________
Daniela Fernández, Mayor
1 CITY OF NEVADA CITY
ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUG 23, 2023
NOTE: This meeting is available to view on the City’s website www.nevadacityca.gov – Go to Quick Links and Click on Agendas & Minutes and find the Archived Videos in the middle of the screen. Select the meeting date and Click on Video to watch the meeting. For website assistance, please contact Gabrielle Christakes, Deputy City Clerk at (530) 265-2496, ext 133. - City Council Meetings are available on DVD. To order, contact City Hall - cost is $15.00 per DVD. - Closed Session Meetings are not recorded.
REGULAR MEETING – 6:30 PM - Call to Order
NISENAN TRIBE RECOGNITION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Roll Call: Present: Mayor Fernàndez, Councilmembers Petersen, Kline, Ceci
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA:
Action: Motion by Fleming, seconded by Ceci to adopt the Agenda for August 23, 2023 Meeting (Approved 5-0) Fernàndez, Petersen, Fleming, Kline, Ceci PUBLIC COMMENT (Per Government Code Section 54954.3)
Please refer to the meeting video on the City’s website at www.nevadacityca.gov.
PRESENTATIONS
Proclamation: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony The Wellness Way
Presentation: City Hall Fruit and Vegetable Stand (Edible Food Recovery and Composting) Holiday Recognition: Labor Day
Proclamation: Suicide Prevention Month September 2023
CONSENT ITEMS:
1. Action Minutes August 9, 2023, Regular Meeting
Recommended Action: Review and approve the minutes
2. Fire Activity Report – July 2023
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report
3. Consideration of the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Program Annual Report for the Calendar Year 2022 Reporting Period.
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report
2 4. Consideration of the Special Event Street Closure Request for the NCCAT Event “Day of Stories” Organized by Community Beyond Violence
Recommended Action: Review, approve, and authorize the special event street closure requests per the submitted application
5. Second Reading and Consideration of Ordinance 2023-07: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Nevada City Amending Section 17.68.080 of Chapter 17.68 (“Combining District Regulations”) and Section 17.80.190 of Chapter 17.80 (“Development Performance Standards”) Both of Title 17 (“Zoning”) of the City of Nevada City Municipal Code, Relating to Internally Illuminated and Electronic Signs
Recommended Action: Hold second reading and adopt the ordinance Action: Motion by Petersen, Seconded by Fleming, to approve items 1 through 4 on Consent (Approved 5-0) Fernàndez, Petersen, Fleming, Kline, Ceci Action: Motion by Fernàndez to remove item #5 from Consent and direction was given to staff. (Approved 5-0) Fernàndez, Petersen, Fleming, Kline, Ceci
BUSINESS
6. Consideration of an Update on the 2024 Chinese New Year Parade Organized by Community Asian Theater (CATS).
Recommended Action: Receive an update on the approved special event.
7. Consideration of an Update on and Recommendations for Softscape Elements on the Commercial Street Reconstruction Project
Recommended Action: Receive an update and provide direction on the softscape elements
8. Consideration of Approval of Pilot Fuels Abatement Project on the Drummond and Monroe Street Slivers
Recommended Action: Approve the project.
Inspection Services and authorize the City Manager to sign the contract Action: Motion by Petersen, Seconded by Ceci, to Approve the Pilot Fuels Abatement Project on the Drummond and Monroe Street Slivers
(Approved 5-0) Fernàndez, Petersen, Fleming, Kline, Ceci CITY MANAGER AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS: Verbal report provided ADJOURNMENT: 8:24 PM
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
3 ABSENT:
____________________________
Daniela Fernàndez, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Niel Locke, City Clerk
CITY OF NEVADA CITY
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING OF: September 13, 2023 Agenda Item No. 02
Subject: Accounts Payable Activity Report August 2023
From: Brittnie Neundorfer, Accounting Technician
Date: September 1, 2023
Reviewed & Approved:
City Manager: STG
City Attorney:
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report.
ISSUE STATEMENT AND DISCUSSION:
The attached Accounts Payable Report for August 2023 reviews the accounts payable and check register for the month.
FINANCIAL AND/OR POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
None.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This action, reporting on the program, is consistent with the embedded strategic initiative of Engagement:
Community engagement and communications with stakeholders.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
None.
LEGAL REVIEW:
City Attorney Pucci has reviewed this item and finds that the recommended action complies with the law.
ATTACHMENTS:
Accounts Payable Report August 2023
CITY OF NEVADA CITY
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING OF: September 13, 2023 Agenda Item No. 03
Subject: Monthly Statistical Crime Data August 2023
From: Dan Foss, Chief of Police
Date: September 6, 2023
Reviewed & Approved:
City Manager: STG
City Attorney:
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report.
ISSUE STATEMENT AND DISCUSSION:
Attached is the monthly statistical crime report from August 2023, for the Nevada City Police Department.
Refer to the attached spreadsheet for additional information.
As we transition from summer to fall, the police department completed internal audits to ensure we are addressing common issues that tend to be exemplified during this time of the year. One common increase during the summer months is DUI incidents and accidents. The officers of Nevada City PD increased enforcement activity focused on DUIs, and we saw a dramatic increase in arrests this summer. Included with this was a heavy focus on prevention, and the officers made several contacts with people displaying signs of intoxication before getting into vehicles, preventing DUI, educating the public, and ensuring the community's safety.
Code enforcement for the Nevada City Police Department covers a vast array of tasks for the department.
One task that code enforcement has been focusing on for several months is heavily neglected and hoarded properties. Hoarded properties are a danger to not just the occupants of the household but to the community due to fire risk and pest infestations. Code has made several contacts with the owners of the properties and developed plans for progress moving forward. In the event some of the properties are not making progress or are too heavily damaged, code enforcement is working closely with the legal team and courts to ensure the safety of the entire community.
Nevada City Police Department will always be available for comments and will notify the council of any concerns.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This action is consistent with the embedded strategic initiative of Engagement: Community engagement and communications with stakeholders.
FINANCIAL AND/OR POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
None.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
None.
LEGAL REVIEW:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
August 2023 Case Report
CURRENT PERIOD SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR CHANGE
Type Number Percent Cleared* Percent Number Percent Cleared* Percent Number Percent Case Report Type
ANIMAL 2 3% 0 0% 2 2% 0 0% 0 0%
ASSAULT - A 1 1% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100%
ASSAULT - S 0 0% 0 0% 2 2% 0 0% -2 -200%
AUTO THEFT 1 1% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100%
BURGLARY 0 0% 0 0% 1 1% 0 0% -1 -100%
CIVIL DISPUTE 1 1% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100%
CODE ENFORCEMENT 2 3% 0 0% 1 1% 0 0% 1 100%
COURT ORDER 2 3% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 2 200%
DECEASED PERSON 2 3% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 2 200%
DISORDERLY 3 4% 0 0% 4 4% 2 50% -1 -100%
DOMESTIC DISPUTE 2 3% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 2 200%
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 1 1% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100%
DUI 2 3% 0 0% 2 2% 1 50% 0 0%
ELDER 1 1% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100%
FOUND PROPERTY 3 4% 0 0% 5 6% 0 0% -2 -200%
FRAUD 0 0% 0 0% 2 2% 0 0% -2 -200%
GENERAL 2 3% 1 50% 4 4% 0 0% -2 -200%
GRAFFITI 0 0% 0 0% 5 6% 0 0% -5 -500%
HIT-RUN-N 1 1% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100%
LIQUOR LAWS 3 4% 1 33% 1 1% 0 0% 2 200%
MENTAL HEALTH 3 4% 0 0% 1 1% 0 0% 2 200%
MISC INFO RPT 7 10% 0 0% 15 17% 0 0% -8 -800%
MISSING 1 1% 0 0% 2 2% 0 0% -1 -100%
MVSTOP 0 0% 0 0% 3 3% 0 0% -3 -300%
NARCOTICS 2 3% 1 50% 1 1% 0 0% 1 100%
OA 0 0% 0 0% 2 2% 0 0% -2 -200%
OTHER OFFENSE 1 1% 1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100%
RECOVERED VEHICLE 1 1% 0 0% 1 1% 0 0% 0 0%
RESIST 1 1% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100%
RUNAWAY JUVENILE 0 0% 0 0% 1 1% 0 0% -1 -100%
SEX OFFENSE 2 3% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 2 200%
STOLEN PROPERTY 2 3% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 2 200%
THEFT 3 4% 0 0% 3 3% 0 0% 0 0%
TOW 3 4% 0 0% 3 3% 0 0% 0 0%
TRAFFIC 1 1% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100%
TRAFFIC COLLISION 0 0% 0 0% 3 3% 0 0% -3 -300%
VANDALISM 3 4% 0 0% 7 8% 0 0% -4 -400%
WARRANT ARREST 1 1% 0 0% 8 9% 3 38% -7 -700%
WEAPONS 1 1% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 100%
Total Case Reports 61 4 79 6 -18
RMS-185 v1.10 Printed 9/5/2023 1:51:13 PM Page 1 of 2 Total Pages
CITY OF NEVADA CITY
317 BROAD ST.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
MONTHLY STATISTICAL REPORT
CLEARED BY DISPO STATUS
REPORT PERIOD
August 2023
NEVADA CITY, CA 95959
(530) 265-4700
CURRENT PERIOD SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR CHANGE
Type Number Percent Cleared* Percent Number Percent Cleared* Percent Number Percent Arrest Type
Adult Arrests Felony 7 33% 3 43% 5 26% 1 20% 2 200%
Adult Arrests Misd 14 67% 2 14% 11 58% 4 36% 3 300%
Juvenile Arrests Felony 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Juvenile Arrests Misd 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
Warrant Arrests** 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
All Other Arrests 0 0% 0 0% 3 16% 1 33% -3 -300%
Total Arrests 21 5 19 6 2
RMS-185 v1.10 Printed 9/5/2023 1:51:13 PM Page 2 of 2 Total Pages * Cleared - Is determined by the case disposition where the case is cleared by an arrest or an exception. ** Arrest Type, Warrant Arrests - Are Warrant reports where warrant type = 'ARREST'.
CITY OF NEVADA CITY
317 BROAD ST.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
MONTHLY STATISTICAL REPORT
CLEARED BY DISPO STATUS
REPORT PERIOD
August 2023
NEVADA CITY, CA 95959
(530) 265-4700
CITY OF NEVADA CITY
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING OF: September 13, 2023 Agenda Item No. 04
Subject: Building Activity Report August 2023
From: Lisa McCandless, Interim City Planner
Date: September 6, 2023
Reviewed & Approved:
City Manager: STG
City Attorney:
Recommended Action: Receive and file the report.
ISSUE STATEMENT AND DISCUSSION:
The attached Building Activity Report for August 2023 reviews the actions and activities for the month.
FINANCIAL AND/OR POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
None.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This action, reporting on the program, is consistent with the embedded strategic initiative of Engagement:
Community engagement and communications with stakeholders.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
None.
LEGAL REVIEW:
City Attorney Pucci has reviewed this item and finds that the recommended action complies with the law.
ATTACHMENTS:
Building Activity Report August 2023
August 2023 Building Activity Report
Date Record Number Record Type Description Address Status 8/31/2023 233026
Over the Counter
Permit
Replace 200 amp electrical service.
Sewer backflow verification not
required. Work to be performed by
Theos Electric.Includes 2 inspections.
108 BOULDER STREET,
Nevada City CA 95959 Issued
8/31/2023 233038 Express Permit
HVAC. Installed sewer backflow
prevention device to be verified at
final.
233 BROAD STREET,
Nevada City CA 95959 Received
8/28/2023 232996
Over the Counter
Permit
Remove and replace existing deck
360sf.See Building Review Comments
under ‘Attachments’.PERMIT
INCLUDES 2 INSPECTIONS.
308 PARK AVENUE,
Nevada City CA 95959 Issued
8/28/2023 232992 Full Review
DIGITAL: Kitchen remodel, minor
interior alterations, window and door
replacement at living room.Sewer
backflow verification
required.Includes 3 inspections.
323 MONROE STREET,
Nevada City CA 95959 In Review
8/28/2023 232999 Express Permit
DIGITAL: Remodel - on first floor
Kitchen, power room, and laundry
room. On third floor bedroom,
bathroom and closet.Includes 3
inspections.
329 PARK AVENUE,
Nevada City CA 95959 In Review
8/25/2023 232972 Express Permit
Web. Install new 9.72 kW PV system
on home. Installed sewer backflow
prevention device to be verified at
final. Includes 2 inspections. Final
required.
351 CLAY STREET,
Nevada City CA 95959 Received
8/23/2023 232952 Express Permit
Web. Reroof. Cool Comp. 32
squares. Installed sewer backflow
prevention device to be verified at
final. PPR One inspection. Final
required.
234 AMERICAN HILL
ROAD, Nevada City CA
95959 Received
8/22/2023 232919 Full Review
The removal of 4 1920 square Ft
hoop houses as well as un-permitted
electrical as far as generators and
string lights.
0 N/A, Nevada City CA
95959 Received
8/22/2023 232925 Express Permit
2 ton a/c add on (14.2 SEER2) with an
upflow furnace change out 96%
AFUE. Installed sewer backflow
prevention device to be verified at
final.
218 PARK AVENUE,
Nevada City CA 95959 Received
8/22/2023 232920 Express Permit
Remove 3 single hung windows and
replace with 3 picture windows, also
remove 1 single hung windows and
replace with a double hung window;
Unit 106 grille pattern to remain the
same. New windows are retrofit.
Backflow prevention device verified.
No further action needed. Includes
one inspection. Final required.
418 NIMROD STREET,
Nevada City CA 95959 Issued
8/22/2023 232917 Express Permit
WEB. REPLACEMENT OF HEATING
AND COOLING. Installed sewer
backflow prevention device to be
verified at final. Includes 1
inspection. Final required.
590 SEARLS AVENUE,
Nevada City CA 95959 Finaled
8/17/2023 23TMP-003770 Express Permit
To remove an unpermitted
structures, plumbing, mechanical,
and electrical.
0 N/A, Nevada City CA
95959
8/17/2023 232884 Express Permit
Web. Main electrical change out
200a for 200a. Installed sewer
backflow prevention device to be
verified at final. Includes 2
inspections. Final required.
102 WOODS COURT,
Nevada City CA 95959 Issued
8/17/2023 232887 Express Permit
Backup Generac Generator 18kW
with 200amp transfer switch and 1
inch gas line.This permit includes up
to 2 inspections. Final inspection
required.
236 BOULDER STREET,
Nevada City CA 95959 Finaled
8/16/2023 232877 Express Permit
Upgrade 100 amp service panel to
200 amp. Includes 2 inspections.
Final required. Installed sewer
backflow prevention device to be
verified at final. Includes 2
inspections. Final required.
301 GETHSEMANE
STREET, Nevada City CA
95959 Issued
8/15/2023 232854 Express Permit
Web. Reroof. Cool Comp. 19
squares. PPR One inspection. Final
required.
106 PERSEVERANCE
MINE COURT, Nevada
City CA 95959 Issued
8/11/2023 232820 Express Permit
Web. Install new 3.24kW PV system
on home. 8 modules with
microinverters. Installed sewer
backflow prevention device to be
verified at final. Includes 2
inspections. Final required.
267 BOURBON HILL
ROAD, Nevada City CA
95959 Issued
8/11/2023 232825 Full Review
DIGITAL: New 2nd residence, 2
bedroom, 2.5 bath. 1342 sf. Covered
porch, 234 sf. Attached garage, 267
sf. Attached shop & airlock, 1599 sf.
Storage above shop, 583 sf.Includes
12 inspections.
656 WEST BROAD
STREET, Nevada City CA
95959 In Review
8/9/2023 232793 Express Permit
Web. Replace existing cooling
equipment only. System located on
side of house. Installed sewer
backflow prevention device to be
verified at final. Includes one
inspection. Final required.
222 PARK AVENUE,
Nevada City CA 95959 Issued
8/9/2023 232786 Express Permit
Reroof. Cool Comp. 100 squares.
Installed sewer backflow prevention
device to be verified at final. PPR
One inspection. Final required.
350 GRACIE ROAD,
Nevada City CA 95959 Received
8/9/2023 232797 Express Permit
Web. 200 AMP Main electrical
service split between two 100 amp
meter panels / change out. Installed
sewer backflow prevention device to
be verified at final. Includes 2
inspections. Final required.
128 GROVE STREET,
Nevada City CA 95959 Issued
8/7/2023 232747 Express Permit
Web. Replace failing single pane
windows with new high efficiency
retrofit windows. Install 2-zone mini
split system Installed sewer backflow
prevention device to be verified at
final. Includes one inspection. Final
required.
523 SACRAMENTO
STREET, Nevada City CA
95959 Issued
8/3/2023 232709 Express Permit
Web. Install new 7.29 kW PV system
on home. 18 modules with
microinverters. Sewer backflow
prevention verified required per NC
stamp on plans.Includes 2
inspections. Final required.
519 SILVA AVENUE,
Nevada City CA 95959 Issued
8/3/2023 232706 Express Permit
Web. Electrical connections to (E) 25
kw emergency backup diesel
generator and associated electrical
mounted on an (E) concrete slab.
Installed sewer backflow prevention
device to be verified at final.
Includes 2 inspections.
980 HELLING WAY,
Nevada City CA 95959 Issued
8/3/2023 232710
Over the Counter
Permit
Replace rear deck. 560 sf.Sewer
backflow verification
required.Includes 2 inspections.
134 BOULDER STREET,
Nevada City CA 95959 Issued
8/3/2023 232719
Over the Counter
Permit
Platinum Roofing Program
Application: Weather Guard 0 ROW Finaled
8/2/2023 232699
Over the Counter
Permit
Feb 2023 Storm Damage. Same for
same tree damage repair to roof.
Replace damaged rafters, HVAC,
electrical, drywall, insulation,
flooring, reroof with cool roof
residence. Includes 6 inspections.
Final required
171 GROVE STREET,
Nevada City CA 95959 Issued
8/2/2023 23TMP-003542 Full Review
411 COYOTE STREET,
Nevada City CA 95959
1 CITY OF NEVADA CITY
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING OF: September 13, 2023 Agenda Item No. 05
Subject: Conduct a Public Hearing in Consideration of
Adoption of Resolution 2023-42: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Nevada City, California, Determining the Initial Study and Negative Declaration (IS/ND) is Adequate and Approving General Plan Amendment GPA 2023-01 Adopting
the 2023 Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element
(CAPSE) of the General Plan.
From: Lisa McCandless, Interim City Planner
Gary Price, Contract Planner
Date: September 6, 2023
Reviewed & Approved:
City Manager: STG
City Attorney:
Recommended Action: Conduct a public hearing considering the inclusion of provided comments and adopt the resolutions.
ISSUE STATEMENT AND DISCUSSION:
The Safety and Noise Elements are two of many required elements that comprise a general plan; a broad, long-range policy document that guides future development and conservation of the City. The current Public Safety Element last adopted in 1986, includes how the City addresses public safety issues, including noise exposure. The City began a process to update the Public Safety Element (now referred to as the Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element – CAPSE) in 2021. The process began with a public workshop on July 29, 2021, followed by a public survey that ended in September of 2021. The results of the 2021 workshop and survey helped guide the development of the CAPSE process to date. More recently, the City Council and Planning Commission held a joint public workshop on June 29, 2023. This meeting provided opportunities for the Council, Commission, and the public to provide feedback on the CAPSE.
On August 31, 2023, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution PC 2023-01, recommending that the City Council approve the project (see attachment). All details of the project can be found in this attachment with all related information related to the CAPSE found at the following link:
https://www.nevadacityca.gov/pview.aspx?id=20947
Planning Commission Review: During the August 31, 2023, public hearing, the Commission focused most of their attention to wildfire hazards and how the City can best address evacuation and improvement to older buildings that are more vulnerable to fire hazards and spread. Matthew Coulter, a member of the public, spoke on concerns of the hazards of green waste generated by residents that have become potential fire hazards throughout the community. After closing the public hearing, the Planning Commission discussed some amendments to the Draft CAPSE that generated a list of changes to the policies and programs section of the document (see attached Errata). The Commission then determined that the CEQA 2 document (Initial Study Negative Declaration) is adequate and adopted Planning Commission Resolution PC 2023-01 recommending that the City Council approve a Negative Declaration and adopt the CAPSE.
Other Public Review: The final date to have received comments on the environmental review was August 31, 2023. A complete summary of all written public comments received (to the date this report was prepared) and how these comments were responded to, are attached for reference. No additional public comments have been received as of the date this report was prepared. Any additional public comments received after this time will be circulated to the Council at the meeting.
A presentation will be provided to the community and City Council at the meeting including a review of the process, findings, and recommendations related to the CAPSE. Input provided at the meeting may be considered by the City Council in their direction to staff and action in adopting the resolution.
FINANCIAL AND/OR POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
There is no direct financial implication with the adoption of the CAPSE. The CAPSE has several policies and programs that commit the City to address public safety matters that will impact the City in terms of staff and other resources. Many of these are mandated by State requirements, such as updating City fire codes and procedures. All policies and programs have considered the City’s limited resources and looks to other partner agencies, such as Nevada County, Nevada Irrigation District, and local fire districts, for example, to address larger hazards that may be outside the City’s control. Also, as noted in the Planning Commission Staff Report, the CAPSE will need to be further updated once the Nevada County 2017 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) is updated. The County’s LHMP plan is being updated now and anticipated to be completed next year.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This action is consistent with the embedded strategic initiative of Climate: Planning for and building resilience through adaptation to climate change; and the embedded strategic initiative of Engagement:
Community engagement and communications with stakeholders. This action is also consistent with the broad intent of the strategic initiative of Fire: Wildfire and structural fire prevention, mitigation, and education.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements, an environmental assessment has been completed for the General Plan update with the conclusion that a Negative Declaration should be prepared and processed. The City has determined that the adoption of the CAPSE would not result in any significant adverse environmental impacts that may require mitigation. At their August 31, 2023, meeting, the Planning Commission determined that the Initial Study is adequate and makes a recommendation to City Council to approve a Negative Declaration for the project. The environmental public review closed on August 31, 2023 and a Notice of Intent was filed with the County Recorder’s Office on July 28. By issuing a Negative Declaration for this project the City, as lead agency, 1) determines that the Initial Study adequately addresses the project’s environmental impacts in accordance with CEQA, and 2) the City has properly responded to comments received from agencies and members from the public regarding the adequacy of the Initial Study (see attached summary of public comments). As required by the CEQA Guidelines, a determination/finding of negative declaration needs to be made prior to approving the CAPSE.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this item and finds that the recommended action complies with the law. 3 ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution 2023-42 (Including Complete CAPSE)
Planning Commission Resolution PC 2023-01
Errata from Planning Commission
Planning Commission Staff Report (without attachments) Initial Study Negative Declaration (ISND) Environmental Document 4 EXHIBIT A
2023 CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT OF
THE CITY OF NEVADA CITY GENERAL PLAN
RESOLUTION 2023-42
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEVADA CITY, STATE
OF CALIFORNIA, DETERMINING THE INITIAL STUDY AND NEGATIVE
DECLARATION (IS/ND) IS ADEQUATE AND APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT GPA 2023-01 ADOPTING THE 2023 CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND
PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT (CAPSE) OF THE GENERAL PLAN
WHEREAS, the Safety and Noise Elements, which are incorporated into the current Public Safety Element, are two of seven state mandated elements required in the General Plan; and WHEREAS, the 2023 Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element, which updates and replaces the current 1986 Public Safety Element, has been prepared, consisting of General Plan Amendment GPA 2023-01, contains goals, policies, and programs objectives to meet current and projected safety and noise related needs to comply with the California Government Code, as shown in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated by reference; and WHEREAS, this 2023 Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element will promote the health, safety, peace, morals and general welfare of the City; and WHEREAS, the Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element is in conformance with the General Plan requirements of State Code 65300 in that the General Plan will continue to contain all required elements and is internally consistent; and WHEREAS, the Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is periodically reviewed and updated in accordance with the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and Government Code 65302.6, is incorporated into this Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element by reference; and WHEREAS, since the City is located in a State Responsible Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the California Board of Forestry reviewed the Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element on July 3, 2023, and in accordance with California Government Code Sections 65302, found it to acceptable with no changes; and
WHEREAS, the City prepared an Initial Study and Negative Declaration as the appropriate environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); the Planning Commission, during a notice public hearing on August 31, 2023, found that the Initial Study and Negative Declaration to be adequate; and
WHEREAS, the City has independently reviewed, analyzed, and considered the Initial Study and Negative Declaration and the Planning Commission’s recommendation prior to making its decision on the project. And determined that this reflects the independent judgement of the City of Nevada City, as lead agency; and
WHEREAS, during a duly noticed public hearing on August 31, 2023, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution PC 2023-01, recommending to the City Council approval of General Plan Amendment GPA 2023-01 and adopting the Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element; and WHEREAS, a duly noticed Public Hearing was held by the City Council on September 13, 2023; and all interested persons were given an opportunity to be heard at this meeting.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Nevada City as follows:
Section 1. Determines that the Initial Study prepared for the project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act is adequate and hereby issues a Negative Declaration for the Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element.
Section 2. Adopts the Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element as shown in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated by reference to replace the 1986 Public Safety Element as part of the City of Nevada City General Plan.
Section 3. Authorizes the City Manager or appointed staff to take such further actions as required for approval of the 2023 Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element subject to any other minor, conforming, technical and clarifying changes approved by the City Attorney.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Nevada City at a public meeting held on the 13th of September 2023.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
___________________________________
Daniela Fernández, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
Niel Locke, City Clerk
CITY OF NEVADA CITY
CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY
ELEMENT 2023-28
Chapter 6 of the Nevada City General Plan
Adopted September 13, 2023
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NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 i
Acknowledgements
Nevada City Council
Daniela Fernández, Mayor
Gary Petersen, Vice-Mayor
Doug Fleming, Council Member
Adam Kline, Council Member
Lou Ceci, Council Member
Nevada City Planning Commission
Thomas Nigh, Chair
Amy Cobden, Vice-Chair
Wendy Ermshar
Peter Van Zant
Rodney Brown
Nevada City Staff
Sean Grayson, City Manager
Lisa McCandless, Interim City Planner
Bryan McAlister, City Engineer
Sam Goodspeed, Fire Division Chief
Mark Buttron, Fire Chief
Dawn Zydonis, Parks & Recreation Manager
Preparers of Report
Price Consulting Services Team:
Gary Price, Principal, Price Consulting Services, Author Jeanine Foster, Foster Morrison Consulting
Chris Morrison, Foster Morrison Consulting
Paul Bollard, Bollard Associates
Eric Vaughn, Rincon Consultants
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 ii
Technical Steering Committee
A technical steering committee was formed
as the beginning of preparing the Public
Safety Element Update consisting of various
staff and stakeholders who participated in
reviewing the document and offering
suggestions to assure accurate and
consistent information. The committee
consists of:
Nevada City Staff:
Lisa McCandless
City Project Manager
Interim City Planner
Amy Wolfson
City Project Manager
City Planner
Sean Grayson
City Manager
Bryan McAlister
City Engineer
Sam Goodspeed
Fire Division Chief
Mark Buttron
Fire Chief
Dan Foss
Police Chief
Dawn Zydonis
Parks & Recreation Manager
Nevada County Staff:
Trisha Tillotson
Community Development Agency Director
Craig Griesbach
Director, Office of Emergency Services
Paul Cummings
Program Manager, Office of Emergency
Services
Alex Keeble-Toll
Senior Administrative Analyst
Office of Emergency Services
Lieutenant Sean Scales
Emergency Operations Coordinator
Office Of Emergency Services
Sheriff's Office
Steve T Monaghan
Information and General Services Officer
Others:
Carrie Monahan
Program Director
Sierra Fund
Shane Vargas
Battalion Chief
State Fire Marshal
CALFIRE
Mike Woodman
Director, Nevada County Transportation
Commission
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Brief Overview of Nevada City – Growth, Philosophy, and Public Safety ............................. 1 Section 2 PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION OF SAFETY ELEMENT ............................................ 2
2.1 Terms and Definitions................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Data and Methodology................................................................................................................. 3
2.3 Regulatory Compliance................................................................................................................. 3
2.4 Relationship to Other Documents.............................................................................................. 3 A. Nevada City General Plan ............................................................................................. 3 B. Nevada City Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment............................................... 8 C. Nevada Yuba-Placer Unit (NEU) Fire Management Plan.............................................. 8 D. Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and Annex B-Nevada City..................... 9 E. Nevada County General Plan and Related Safety and Noise Elements........................ 9 F. Other Related Documents............................................................................................ 9
2.5 City Safety Services.....................................................................................................................10
2.6 Emergency Planning and Regional Partners............................................................................11 A. Disaster Mitigation Act ............................................................................................... 11 B. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)..................................................... 12 C. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) ............................ 13 D. California Geological Survey of the Department of Conservation (CGS) ................... 13 E. California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)................................... 14 F. The Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR)............................................. 14 G. California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).................................................. 14 H. California Highway Patrol (CHP) ................................................................................. 14 I. Nevada County Sheriff Department ........................................................................... 15 J. Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (County OES)...................................... 15 K. Grass Valley Fire Department (GVFD)......................................................................... 15 L. Nevada County Consolidated Fire District (NCCFD) ................................................... 15 M. Nevada County Department of Public Works, Road Maintenance Division .............. 16 N. Nevada County Transportation Commission (NCTC).................................................. 16 O. Nevada Irrigation District (NID) .................................................................................. 16 P. Nevada County Fire Safe Council (NCFSC).................................................................. 16
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 iv
Q. Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities (FWC) ........................................ 17 R. Additional Nevada County Coordinating Agencies..................................................... 17 S. Agency Collaboration.................................................................................................. 18 Section 3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND PLAN ADOPTION.................................................... 18
3.1 Technical Steering Committee ..................................................................................................19
3.2 City Planning Commission Approval.........................................................................................19
3.3 Nevada City Council Adoption...................................................................................................19 Section 4 EXISTING/PROJECTED CONDITIONS AND HAZARD PROFILES................................ 19
4.1 Community Character.................................................................................................................19 A. Climate Change on the Community............................................................................ 20
4.2 Safety Category Profiles.............................................................................................................20 A. Climate Change, Resiliency, and Adaptive Capacity (CC) ........................................... 21 B. Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation (EP) .......................................................... 24 C. Fire and Protection (FP).............................................................................................. 32 D. Flood Hazards (FH)...................................................................................................... 53 E. Geologic Hazards/Seismic Activity (GH) ..................................................................... 62 F. Public Safety Services and Facilities (SF)..................................................................... 67 G. Hazardous Materials (HM) (including Mining Hazards).............................................. 76 H. Severe Weather (SW).................................................................................................. 80 I. Noise Exposure (NE).................................................................................................... 84 J. Other Considerations (OC).......................................................................................... 89 Section 5 GOALS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS..................................................................... 90
5.1 Climate Change, Resiliency and Adaptive Capacity (CC)........................................................91 GOALS................................................................................................................................ 91 POLICIES ............................................................................................................................ 91
5.2 Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation (EP).......................................................................92 GOAL ................................................................................................................................. 92 POLICIES ............................................................................................................................ 93 PROGRAMS ....................................................................................................................... 94
5.3 Fire Hazards and Protection (FP)...............................................................................................95 GOALS................................................................................................................................ 95 POLICIES ............................................................................................................................ 95 PROGRAMS ....................................................................................................................... 99
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 v
5.4 Flood Hazards (FH)....................................................................................................................101 GOAL ............................................................................................................................... 101 POLICIES .......................................................................................................................... 101 PROGRAMS ..................................................................................................................... 103
5.5 Geologic Hazards/Seismic Activity (GH).................................................................................104 GOAL ............................................................................................................................... 104 POLICIES .......................................................................................................................... 104 PROGRAMS ..................................................................................................................... 105
5.6 Hazardous Materials and Mining Hazards (HM)...................................................................106 GOAL ............................................................................................................................... 106 POLICIES .......................................................................................................................... 106 PROGRAMS ..................................................................................................................... 107
5.7 Public Safety Services and Facilities (SF)................................................................................107 GOALS.............................................................................................................................. 107 POLICIES .......................................................................................................................... 107
5.8 Severe Weather (SW) ...............................................................................................................108 GOAL ............................................................................................................................... 108 POLICIES .......................................................................................................................... 108 PROGRAM ....................................................................................................................... 109
5.9 Noise Exposure (NE)..................................................................................................................109 GOALS.............................................................................................................................. 109 POLICIES .......................................................................................................................... 109 PROGRAMS ..................................................................................................................... 116
5.10 Other Considerations (OC).......................................................................................................116 Overall Other Considerations ......................................................................................... 116 Power Shutoff Events and Improved Power Grid Safety................................................ 117 Military Land Use Compatibility...................................................................................... 117 Environmental Justice..................................................................................................... 117 Water Quality.................................................................................................................. 118 Reduced Carbon Footprint and Improved Air Quality:................................................... 118 Miscellaneous................................................................................................................. 119 Section 6 APPENDICES ..................................................................................................... 120
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 vi
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NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 1
Section 1 INTRODUCTION
The Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element Update (CAPSE) serves as the City’s Safety and Noise elements, which are required elements of general plans subject to the requirements of California Government Code § 65302(g)(h). Under California state law, a safety element promotes protection for the community from unreasonable risks related to slope instability, seismic activity, subsidence, liquefaction, known geologic hazards, flooding, wildland and urban fires, tsunami, seiche, dam failure, and climate change. The Noise Exposure section of this document serves as the Noise Element to address noise related safety issues in accordance with California Government Code § 65302(f).
The City is also focusing on climate change adaptation in this document because California state law requires that safety elements include a vulnerability assessment that identifies the risks posed by climate change and a series of adaptation goals, policies, and implementation measures designed to protect the community (Senate Bill [SB] 379, 2015). The City is also including climate adaptation due to the unprecedented disruptions that climate change is anticipated to cause through and beyond General Plan buildout. Due to decades of rapidly increasing Global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and insufficient climate action at all levels of government and industry, atmospheric GHG concentrations have reached a level that guarantees substantial and unavoidable impacts for the foreseeable future. California’s recent historic heat, wildfires, droughts, floods, mudslides, and public safety power shutoffs represent the types of climate change impacts that will be experienced with increasing frequency and severity. These impacts threaten to make all the significant issues currently faced by the City (e.g., economic recovery, the housing crisis, homelessness, equity, sustainable water supply, etc.) more critical, challenging, and expensive. By centering climate change consideration in General Plan goals, policies, and programs now, the community can have sufficient capacity to thrive in the face of a rapidly changing future.
1.1 Brief Overview of Nevada City – Growth, Philosophy, and Public Safety Founded in 1850 and incorporated April 19, 1856, Nevada City was a gold-mining community consisting mainly of tar-paper shacks and tents. Its population was approximately 3,500. One hundred fifty (150) years later, the tar-paper shacks and tents are gone, replaced by a mix of humble “miner’s shacks,” modest cottages, elegant Victorian houses, and impressive brick buildings occupied by a population of just over 3,000. The City sits approximately 60 miles northeast of Sacramento and 84 miles southwest of Reno in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. At approximately 2,500 feet in elevation above sea level, it is surrounded by forest covered hills and is protected by ridge tops and surrounded by forest. The Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Update covers the City’s approximate 4,200-acre General Plan Area, including its 1,400 acres of incorporated boundaries.
The population is economically and philosophically diverse and the residents of Nevada City work vigorously to protect the unique blend of housing, businesses and citizens that comprise the high quality-of-life of their community. The City’s focus continues to maintain a strong sense of
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 2
community and to retain its historic character. This, coupled with recognition of its geographic, topographic and infrastructure constraints, has limited the City’s ability to grow at a faster pace than other surrounding communities, such as Grass Valley and Auburn.
As Nevada City struggles with the challenges of maintaining a viable “living” community with a mix of businesses, residential housing, philosophies and cultural and economic diversity, it also faces its responsibility of protecting residents and businesses from hazardous conditions that have the potential to cause loss of life, injury, property damage and economic loss. Due to the City’s size and limited resources, Nevada City will continue to rely on its partner agencies, such as Nevada County and the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, to help address public safety needs to achieve the goals of this CAPSE.
Section 2 PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION OF SAFETY ELEMENT
The CAPSE is one of several elements of the General Plan which was originally adopted in 1986.
The only substantive update to the General Plan has been the periodic updates to the Housing Element (as mandated by State Law). Nevada City’s Housing Element was most recently updated in 2019 for the 2019-2027 6th State Housing Cycle. Recognizing that a more complete General Plan may eventually be needed to align with the more recent Housing Element and this CAPSE Update, this document reflects the Housing Element format. Also, some aspects of this CAPSE Update carry over some organization and formatting from the Nevada County Safety Element, adopted in 2020, to improve continuity between the two documents. For example, policies and programs in the CAPSE are cross referenced by category identification in the same manner as the County’s Safety Element. These are as follows:
• Climate Change, Resiliency and Adaptive Capacity (CC) • Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation (EP)
• Fire Hazards and Protection (FP)
• Flood Hazards (FH)
• Geologic Hazards/Seismic Activity (GH)
• Public Safety Services and Facilities (SF)
• Hazardous Materials and Mining Hazards (HM)
• Severe Weather (SW)
• Noise Exposure (NE)
• Other Considerations (OC), such as power shutouts, water quality, and environmental justice
Section 5 of this Plan consists of a list of goals, objectives, policies and programs that are cross referenced (by category) to these categories.
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 3
2.1 Terms and Definitions
Terms and definitions of some of the more complicated words used in this document are referenced in Appendix F of this Element.
2.2 Data and Methodology
To understand the context of local safety needs in Nevada City, a review and analysis of the community’s population, economic, environmental, public services and capacity characteristic was performed. The primary data source for the CAPSE is from the 2017 Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). The LHMP includes Annex-B which is specific to Nevada City.
Annex B of the LHMP is included as Appendix B of this Element. Additional data sources are referenced in Appendix G References of this Element. Due to the use of multiple data sources, there are slight variations in numbers. However, these variations do not significantly affect the analysis and discussion of overall hazard concerns, safety trends and changes. In all cases, the most recent available data has been used.
2.3 Regulatory Compliance
The CAPSE has been developed in compliance with California laws and regulations, consistent with other plans prepared or adopted by the City, including the Nevada County 2017 LHMP, and required elements of the City’s adopted General Plan.
Key California laws informing preparation of the Climate Adaptation and Safety Element, including recent legislation related to planning for climate change adaptation and environmental justice, include Senate Bill (SB) 379 (Climate Change and Resilience), SB 99 (Emergency Evacuation Routes), SB 1000 (Environmental Justice), Assembly Bill 747 (Emergency Evacuation Routes), the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Faulting Zone Act, the National Flood Insurance Program, California Government Code § 65302(g) (Authority for and Scope of General Plans – Safety Element), and California Government Code § 65302 (f) (Authority for and Scope of General Plans – Noise Element).
2.4 Relationship to Other Documents
The CAPSE is an important guide for considering future direction the City takes to address future public safety outcomes. Therefore, it is imperative that the Element be evaluated for consistency with larger picture plans, such as the City’s General Plan and the 2017 Nevada County LHMP. The CAPSE provides some background into the characteristics of the City and how this Element considers these macro level community plans.
A. Nevada City General Plan
The California Government Code requires internal consistency among the various elements of a general plan. California Government Code § 65300.5 states that the general plan and the parts and elements thereof shall comprise an integrated and internally consistent and compatible
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 4
statement of goals. The CAPSE comprises two of seven State mandated elements consisting of the General Plan – Safety Element and Noise Element. Relative to the status and consistency with these other elements, the CAPSE was designed to integrate and be consistent with all elements of the current Nevada City General Plan as follows:
Section 1 Introduction: Consists of an introduction and summary of the General Plan. The CAPSE has been formatted and organized to fit in with the current General Plan Introduction, and until the entire General Plan is comprehensively updated, this Section does not require amendment.
Mapping: Upon incorporation in 1856, the City was 640 acres or 1 square mile. By 1986, when the City adopted its current General Plan, the City had annexed an additional 552 acres. The City now has a total incorporated area of 1,376 acres or 2.15 square miles. In 2008, the City adopted clarifying updates to the General Plan Land Use Map that includes a much larger area outside the City’s jurisdictional boundaries containing both its incorporated boundaries and areas surrounding it consisting of 4,200 acres herein referenced as the City’s General Plan Area. Areas within this General Plan Boundary, but located outside the City’s jurisdictional boundaries, are considered to have geographic, economic, social, and land use influence on the City and should be looked at carefully as they impact the City in many ways beyond potential need for future City service. In many ways, the City’s planning opportunities and constraints have not changed since they were identified when the City originally adopted its General Plan in 1986 (see Figure 1).
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 5
Figure 1. Nevada City Jurisdictional and General Plan Boundaries
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 6
Section 2 Land Use and Economic Development: Designates the general distribution and location of land uses within the City and within a larger general plan area where the City can extend potential services to and accommodate future development. In accordance with California Government Code § 65302(d), the Land Use and Economic Development Element describes how land uses are dispersed across the City landscape. This directly affects the layout of roads, utility infrastructure, location of essential public facilities, population centers, and areas to be protected in open space. This in turn affects how public safety is addressed by the City. Adopted in 1986, with some minor amendments made in 2014, to respond to updating the Housing Element, the Housing Elementserved the City well in maintaining a balance of growth, economic development and need to retain its small-town character. As noted in the mapping discussion above, the General Plan Land Use Map is the central part of the Land Use and Economic Development Element, which presents a land use plan for the City’s entire 4,200-acre General Plan Area (see Figure 2). Until the entire General Plan is comprehensively updated the Land Use and Economic Development Element does not require amendment as a result of updating the CAPSE.
Sphere of Influence Considerations: The City’s 2008 General Plan Boundaries consisted of the City’s Sphere of Influence (SOI), which is defined by the Nevada County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) as areas for planning future land uses by the City. However, LAFCO, in 2020, reduced the City’s SOI, but such reduction was not approved by the City. For the purposes of the current General Plan Land Use Map and this Element, the City will continue to recognize its 2008 General Plan Boundaries to apply to the General Plan.
Section 3 City Resources: Consistent with California Government Code § 65302(d)-Conservation; addresses the conservation, development, and use of natural resources, including water, forests, soils, rivers, and mineral deposits. California Government Code § 65560-Open Space; addresses long–range preservation and conservation of open–space lands, including open space for the preservation of natural resources, the managed production of resources, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and public health and safety. No changes are proposed in the City Resources Element, which was adopted in 1986.
Section 4 Housing: Consistent with California Government Code § 65581, assesses current and projected housing needs for all economic segments of the community. The Housing Element was adopted in 1986 and updated periodically, with the most recent update in 2019 for the 6th Statewide Housing Cycle for the period of 2019 to 2027. No changes are proposed in the Housing Element for this CAPSE update.
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 7
Figure 2. Nevada City General Plan Land Use Map
Section 5 Circulation: Consistent with California Government Code § 65302 (b), correlates with the Land Use Element and identifies the general location and extent of existing and proposed circulation systems, such as roadways, trails, and other public utilities and facilities. Adopted in 1986. No changes are proposed for the Circulation Element. However, based on many goals and policies presented in this CAPSE, especially related to evacuation needs, the Circulation Element should be updated soon. A new program in this Element has been created to encourage update to this Circulation Element.
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 8
Section 6 Public Safety: Consistent with California Government Code § 65302 (g)-Public Safety; addresses protection of the community from risks associated with seismic, geologic, flood, and wildfire hazards, as well as from other hazard concerns such as drought. Also, in accordance with California Government Code § 65302(f), this CAPSE Update addresses public safety needs relating to climate change in compliance with SB 379. Furthermore, this Element includes an updated Noise Element which identifies and appraises noise problems within the City and forms the basis for future land use distributions. The previous Noise Element section of the Public Safety Element was adopted in 1986. The updated Noise Element, Appendix A to this Element, has been updated to comply with all relevant state regulations. This Noise Element also has been updated to meet new State safety laws.
The General Plan Background Report is a compilation of various technical reports that describe existing conditions to support analysis, conclusions, goals, objectives, policies, and programs in the General Plan. It is periodically updated by City staff and is used as an ongoing data source of changing conditions, such as updated or new infrastructure and capacity constraints/expansions, and environmental changes like climate change. Where new information is developed, such as wildland fire hazard risks or flood hazard maps, the Background Report can be updated, and the General Plan can remain current and vital without the need for further amendments.
B. Nevada City Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
Consistent with SB 379, the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment was prepared as a companion document to this Element (refer to Appendix A of this Element). It provides a climate change vulnerability assessment which evaluates the potential impacts of climate change on community assets and populations. Understanding the City’s vulnerabilities to climate change provides a foundation to define future adaptation strategies for this CAPSE Update and other related planning efforts. The analysis and many goals, policies, and programs of this assessment have been integrated into this CAPSE. Adoption of this Element will include the City’s approval of the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment.
C. Nevada Yuba-Placer Unit (NEU) Fire Management Plan
The Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit (NEU) Fire Management Plan (2022) implements, in part, the State Fire Plan and provides methodology, analysis and procedures for validating fire fuel hazards and risks to design and implement fire mitigating activities. The NEU Fire Management Plan provides background information, fuels and fire data, proposed projects, and individual Battalion reports outlining mitigating activities commonly carried out each year. The NEU Fire Management Plan is CAL FIRE’s local road map to create and maintain defensible landscapes to protect those assets vital to the state and particularly within the Nevada, Yuba, and Placer County areas. Priorities of the Plan are to reduce the risks to citizens and emergency responders from wildland fire and develop a “land stewardship” ethic in the residents of the NEU. Goals of the Plan are:
1. Demonstrate methods that individuals and the community can use to properly manage their lands to improve forest resiliency and reduce the ignitability of structures in the Wildland Urban Interface.
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 9
2. Raise citizen and stakeholder awareness of fire risks and enlist their help and participation in risk reduction.
3. Assist local government in developing standards, policies, and plans, which will result in local, and landscape level fuel modifications.
4. Implement local and landscape level projects and program D. Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and Annex B-Nevada City The Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for the Nevada County that includes the CAPSE planning area was developed in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) and followed FEMA’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan guidance. The LHMP incorporates a process where hazards are identified and profiled, the people and facilities at risk are analyzed, and mitigation actions are developed to reduce or eliminate hazard risk. The implementation of these mitigation actions, which include both short and long-term strategies, involve planning, policy changes, programs, projects, and other activities. The LHMP is currently being updated by Nevada County (including all three cities – Nevada City, Grass Valley, and Truckee). The LHMP is incorporated by reference into the CAPSE. This plan and the most recent version of the plan can be found electronically at: https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/3453/Ready-Nevada-County E. Nevada County General Plan and Related Safety and Noise Elements Nevada County adopted a comprehensive update to its General Plan in 1995. Subsequent amendments have been made to various elements, most relevant to the City’s CAPSE being the 2016 Noise Element and the 2020 Safety Element. This Nevada City CAPSE (Element) has been organized and formatted to be consistent with the County’s Safety Element. Consequently, discussion of safety issues, from evacuation to hazardous materials, have been segregated for ease of reference and to create a collaborative set of goals, policies, and programs that can be more easily understood going between the County and City’s General Plans. This approach also recognizes the importance Nevada County plays in assisting the City with implementing and achieving safety goals and objectives.
F. Other Related Documents
This CAPSE incorporates information, technical analyses, and policies from the following documents where appropriate to support this Element.
Nevada City Municipal Code
This Element is aligned with a number of chapters of the City’s Municipal Code that relate to the CAPSE, such as Title 8, Health and Safety, Noise Control, Title 13, Public Services, Floodplain Management and Water and Sewer Services, Title 15, Buildings and Construction, Fire Safety and Construction Standards, Title 16, Subdivisions, Title 17 Zoning, and Title 18, Environment. These regulations, among other things, address constructing safe structures/buildings, construction in
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 10
floodplains, abatement of dangerous structures, vegetation management, noise control, and water and wastewater treatment.
Nevada City Disaster Plan and Nevada County Emergency Operations Plan These plans prepared in 2011 outline a coordinated effort between the City, Nevada County, and other agencies to address incidents, including natural and human-made disasters to help minimize potential property damage and human injury by reducing the exposure of people and property. These plans outline a method of incident management called the Incident Command System (ICS) that includes a coordinated (multi-department and or multi-agency) response to incidents beyond the scope of normal city and county operationsto protect the health and safety of people and property.
Nevada County Wildfire Evacuation Preparedness Action Plan Prepared in 2019, this Plan is intended to reduce the loss of life during a wildfire by improving evacuation routes and early warning systems, creating more defensible space around private properties and driveways, building a network of maintained fuel breaks, engaging residents in emergency preparedness and fire-safe stewardship, and enhancing critical infrastructure.
READY Nevada County Wildfire Evacuation Preparedness Action and Extreme Climate Event Mobility and Adaptation Plans
READY Nevada County consists of a multi-jurisdictional plan by the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services to create safer evacuation routes, improve early warning systems and emergency communications, improve defensible space around homes and neighborhoods, provide a coordinated approach to wildfire response, and enhance critical infrastructure needed to respond to wildfires such as water storage, fire hydrants, communication systems, and green waste facilities. These plans evaluate climate change and provide recommended strategies to address and improve evacuation and transportation services. Many strategies in these plans have been taken into consideration in this Element’s analysis, policies and programs.
2.5 City Safety Services
City government safety services consist of the Fire, Police, Engineering/Public Works, and Parks and Recreation Departments. The following discusses the current status of each department, composition, and safety services offered at the time this Element was prepared.
City Fire Department: Emergency services are provided to Nevada City responding to structure fires, emergency medical incidents, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, automobile fires, and wildland fires. In 2018 the Nevada City Fire Department and the Grass Valley Fire Department entered into a Shared Administration pilot program. With the success of that program, the two
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 11
agencies merged in 2020 with Nevada City contracting
for services through Grass Valley. Nevada City
maintains one Fire Division Chief position and Grass
Valley provides staffing for three Fire Captains and
three Firefighters at the Nevada City Fire Station 5
with a minimum staffing of two personnel 24-hours
per day. The Grass Valley Battalion Chief (shift
supervisor) also responds from the Nevada City Fire
Station. The Fire Department responds to
approximately 1,000 calls for service a year.
Police Services: The Nevada City Police Department engages with the public in responding to calls for police service. The Department provide a variety of essential services such as conducting criminal investigations, traffic/parking enforcement, building code enforcement, ABC license compliance, evidence management, special event
coordination, quality of life outreach and
enforcement, coordinate/track Peace Officer
Standard Training required training, recruitment and
retention of reserve officers, interns and volunteers,
and coordinates Neighborhood Watch activities. The
Department currently has 10 employees, including
the Chief of Police, 2 sergeants (who also function as
detectives), 6 patrol officers, and 1 record clerk. The Department provides public safety and emergency
protection.
Public Works/Engineering Services: The Nevada City Public Works Department/Engineering Department is responsible for planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the City’s infrastructure, such as public roads, transportation systems, bridges, water, and wastewater systems. The City Engineer manages both engineering and public works programs and is supported by a Public Works Superintendent, with a supporting staff.
Parks and Recreation Department: The Nevada City Parks and Recreation Department plans and maintains public parks and recreation services in the City. These services also involve ensuring park and recreation facilities are safe to the public. The Parks and Recreation Department is managed by the Parks and Recreation Manager, who coordinates with the City Manager and City Engineer in implementing programs and maintaining facilities.
2.6 Emergency Planning and Regional Partners
A. Disaster Mitigation Act
In the event of a major disaster, it is in the interest of the federal government to ensure that the City and local governments have made efforts toward minimizing the effects of disasters. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA) requires that each state develop a hazard mitigation plan
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 12
in order to receive future disaster mitigation funding following a disaster. The DMA requires the development of LHMPs for local governments to be eligible for pre- and post-disaster mitigation funding. The purpose of these requirements is to encourage state and local government to engage in systematic and nationally uniform planning efforts that will result in locally tailored programs and projects that help minimize loss of life, destruction of property, damage to the environment, and the total cost of disasters before they occur. The key here is to ensure that there is a collaborative foundation set up to provide effective coordination between partner agencies. The DMA (California Government Code § 8685.9) provides that local agencies, like the City, adopt a hazard mitigation plan and incorporate it into the Safety Element. Furthermore, California Government Code § 65302.6 allows the City to be eligible for consideration for state funding to cover the local match (6.25%) for public assistance costs for recovery activities after hazard events as long as the hazard mitigation plan is incorporated into the CAPSE. Policy OC-1 incorporates the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into the CAPSE (Safety Element) as it is periodically reviewed and updated.
Due to its small size and limited resources, the City depends on its regional partners to address public safety needs. With a population of roughly three percent of the County’s, the City is limited in its ability to address more regional safety issues, such as wildfire, flood, and evacuation capacity. The City’s ability to adapt to climate change, for example, requires effective coordination with neighboring jurisdictions, such as Nevada County and Grass Valley and supporting districts and agencies. Also, the City’s ability to address larger public safety emergencies requires support and resources provided by state and federal agencies. The following agencies are referenced and included as regional partners in successfully managing public safety needs:
B. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made. FEMA serves as the federal government’s leadership role during major emergencies and disasters including responding, directing, and coordinating federal resources and mutual aid assets across all regions to support all its communities. FEMA also reviews and approves the Local Agency Hazard Mitigation Plan.
FEMA’s hazard mitigation assistance grants provide
funding for eligible mitigation measures that reduce
disaster losses. FEMA administers four hazard
mitigation assistance grant programs relevant to the
City:
1. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program – Assists in implementing long-term hazard mitigation planning and projects following a Presidential major disaster declaration.
The City has access to funding to offset the
costs the City incurs for disaster mitigation.
Government Code Section 8685.9 (AB 2140)
requires that the City adopt a LHMP and then
incorporate it into the Safety Element. This
also helps the City to maximize the cost
recovery potential following a disaster.
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2. Flood Mitigation Assistance Program – Provides funds for planning and projects to reduce or eliminate the risk of flood damage to buildings that are insured annually under the National Flood Insurance Program
3. Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities – Support for states, local communities, tribes, and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards
4. Pre-Disaster Mitigation
C. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) CAL FIRE is responsible for the stewardship of over 31 million acres of California's privatelyowned wildlands, preventing wildfires in the (SRA), and provides emergency services to counties and local jurisdictions as contracted. CAL FIRE has adapted to the evolving regimes of destructive wildfires and has significantly increased its efforts in fire prevention. CAL FIRE’s Fire Prevention Program consists of multiple activities including wildland pre-fire engineering, vegetation management, fire planning, education, and law enforcement. Typical fire prevention projects include brush clearance, prescribed fire, defensible space inspections, emergency evacuation planning, fire prevention education, fire hazard severity mapping, and fire-related law enforcement activities.
In accordance with California Government Code § 65302 CAL FIRE the CAL FIRE Land Use Planning Program assists agencies and the California Board of Forestry with review of Safety Elements when the agencies are located within state responsibility areas and lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones. This review includes evaluation of information needed to disclose severity zones, what agencies are involved in emergency services, and goals, policies, objectives, and programs relating to minimizing wildfire hazards associated with new land uses. Many of the Safety Element’s goals, policies, and programs involve cooperative efforts between responsible agencies for fire protection. In accordance with this law, the City has collaborated with CAL FIRE and the Board of Forestry (BOF) in preparation and review of the CAPSE. On July 14, 2023, the BOF reviewed the CAPSE and indicated the document was acceptable for compliance with State regulations.
D. California Geological Survey of the Department of Conservation (CGS) CGS mission is to provide products and services about the State's geology, seismology, and mineral resources (including their hazards) which affect the health, safety, and business interests of the people of California. The programs operated by CGS include responsibility for providing technical information, advice and production of maps that reflect landslide hazards, seismic hazards (earthquake faults), geological, mineral resources and hazards, and tsunamis. The CGS provides local lead agencies with comments on geological issues associated with the review of various types of environmental documents including local General Plans. These comments are used by local agencies to make land use decisions.
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In accordance with California Government Code § 65302 CAL FIRE and the California Board of Forestry is required to review and approve the Safety Element due to the City’s location within state responsibility areas and lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones. This review includes evaluation of information needed to disclose severity zones, what agencies are involved in emergency services, and goals, policies, objectives, and programs relating to minimizing wildfire hazards associated with new land uses. Many of the Safety Element’s goals, policies, and programs involve cooperative efforts between responsible agencies for fire protection.
In accordance with California Government Code § 65302 (f) (3), the CAPSE was reviewed to address risks of fire within the City (for land classified as very high fire hazard E. California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Cal OES is the State agency responsible for overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery and homeland security activities. Cal OES serves as the State's leadership hub during all major emergencies and disasters including responding, directing, and coordinating state and federal resources and mutual aid assets across all regions to support all its communities. Cal OES also reviews and approves the Local Agency Hazard Mitigation Plan.
F. The Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) The primary responsibility of the OPR is working with local jurisdictions on topics related to land use planning and community development, climate risk and resilience, and high road economic development. OPR is designated in statute as the State's comprehensive planning agency that provides oversight on local General Plan preparation. In addition to containing the vision of the community, California law also requires General Plansto address public safety as one of the seven mandatory elements. The law requires safety elements to address evacuation routes, military installations, seismic and geologic hazards, peak load water supply requirements, and minimum road widths and clearances around structures, as those items relate to identified fire and geologic.
G. California Department of Transportation (CalTrans)
CalTrans provides planning, maintenance, and operation of two main highways, 49 and 20, that transect Nevada City. This agency provides critical services to the City in terms of several bridges and highway access along these highways.
H. California Highway Patrol (CHP)
The CHP provides statewide traffic and emergency services to the City. The local CHP office is located in nearby Grass Valley which serves Nevada City and the Sierra Foothills, an area of approximately 85,000 residents. The CHP coordinates with both the City’s Police and Fire Departments for public safety services.
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I. Nevada County Sheriff Department
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Department (NCSD) provides law enforcement to all the unincorporated areas of Nevada County, including areas within the General Plan area that are outside the City’s jurisdictional boundaries. Sheriff’s services include patrol, dispatch, investigations, search and rescue, boat patrol, correctional facilities, coroner, and court security services.
The NCSD has four divisions including the Administrative Support Division, the Corrections Division, Finance Units, and Operations Division. The Administrative Support division provides support services in units including, civil, communications/dispatch, evidence, personnel/training, and records. The Corrections Division manages the operations and services within the County Jail, and the Finance Unit oversees contract management, grant funding, budget development and reports, and public administration.
J. Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (County OES) Nevada County OES is responsible for coordinating with County departments, municipalities, key stakeholders, and special districts to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all disasters.
County OES designs and conducts simulated disaster response exercises, evaluates emergency staff training, creates evacuation strategies, and maintains the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). County OES also educates the community on preparedness, facilitates stakeholder collaboration, and seeks additional funding through grants and strategic partnerships. County OES manages the Nevada County government's response to and recovery from a disaster, as well as providing support to any city, town, or special district (in Nevada County) responding to and recovering from a disaster. These services are relevant for all natural and climate related hazards, as well as man-made hazards. County OES is currently taking the lead in updating the LHMP and Evacuation Capacity Analysis for the entire County, including Nevada City.
K. Grass Valley Fire Department (GVFD)
GVFD is a neighboring municipal fire agency that provides emergency response services for more than 12,000 permanent residents (a daytime population of 20,000) and responds to more than 4,500 calls for service per year. GVFD provides contract staffing for the Nevada City Fire Department. Through mutual aid arrangements GVFD provides service to the areas surrounding Nevada City and Grass Valley.
L. Nevada County Consolidated Fire District (NCCFD)
NCCFD is a consolidated agency consisting of five separate fire districts in western Nevada County working as one full-service emergency response agency with full-time paid staff. The NCCFD covers 143 square miles of residential, commercial, industrial, and rural areas, broken into 5 service areas and 4 fully staffed stations and a repair shop. Through automatic aid arrangements NCCFD provides “closest resource” response assistance to Grass Valley, Nevada City, and nearby State Responsibility Areas (SRAs).
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M. Nevada County Department of Public Works, Road Maintenance Division Nevada County Public Works, Road Maintenance Division maintains 562 miles of public roadways along with numerous bridges and drainage facilities throughout the County, including signs, vegetation management, and storm response. The Road Maintenance Division is responsible for protecting, repairing, and maintaining Nevada County's road system infrastructure, which includes (but is not limited to) snow removal, storm damage response, vegetation management, drainage and shoulder maintenance, bridge maintenance and surface preservation. While Nevada City owns and maintains some roads within the City footprint, the County maintains numerous roads within the City’s SOI, as well as evacuation routes and arterials connecting the City to the regional transportation network. These services are relevant to public safety concerns associated with increased temperatures, increased wildfire risk, and severe weather hazards including those related to variable precipitation.
N. Nevada County Transportation Commission (NCTC)
NCTC coordinates development and maintenance of the region’s transportation system, including administration of regional, state, and federal funding for projects related to roadways, bridges, public transportation services, railways, airports, and bicycle/pedestrian facilities.
O. Nevada Irrigation District (NID)
NID is a local water purveyor that provides water (30%) to Nevada City. This is in addition to the water that the City (70%) provides directly from Little Deer Creek. The NID provides an essential buffer to water scarcity for Nevada City. Additionally, NID provides ecosystem management services, and maintains water shortage contingency and urban water management plans that contribute to the resilience of the local watersheds.
P. Nevada County Fire Safe Council (NCFSC)
NCFSC consists of a non-profit, local volunteer organization dedicated to making Nevada County safer from catastrophic wildfire through fire safety projects and education. The NCFSC has numerous programs that help residents in wildfire prevention, preparation, and resilience work on their property. Programs include Low-Cost Defensible Space Clearing Services, a Chipping Program, an Access & Functional Needs (AFN)
Defensible Space Clearing program, Defensible Space
Advisory Visits (DSAV), and an Address Signs programs.
In addition to these, the NCFSC contributes expertise
to local planning efforts, participates in special
programs, and hosts fire mitigation challenges such as
the Scotch Broom Removal Challenge.
The City has access to funding to offset the
costs the City incurs for disaster mitigation.
Government Code Section 8685.9 (AB 2140)
requires that the City adopt a LHMP and then
incorporate it into the Safety Element. This
also helps the City to maximize the cost
recovery potential following a disaster.
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 17
Q. Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities (FWC) Firewise communities are an all-volunteer organization (no staff, no dues, and no budget) which works with, but is not part of, the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County. Collectively, Firewise Community group consists of representatives and residents of about 100 Firewise Communities (FWC) located in Nevada County, which includes more than 60 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) certified FWCs with the remaining communities in the process of being certified. Each FWC works within their neighborhood to share ideas and information, promote safe practices, and to amplify the county-wide effort to educate residents on wildfire preparedness. Coalition members also act as advocates for better fire-safe practices and policies.
R. Additional Nevada County Coordinating Agencies
Nevada City coordinates with additional Nevada County entities for purposes of funding, planning, and programming which benefits Nevada City. Additional details regarding the roles and responsibilities of Nevada County, local jurisdictions and agencies, state, and federal assistance in the event of an emergency wherein the County leads the coordinated response effort can be found in the Nevada Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan.
Nevada County is the most common source of assistance for, and partner in, coordinated planning efforts with Nevada City. The County provides health and welfare programs, law enforcement services and jail operation, public transportation services, emergency planning and services, and maintenance of county roads. Descriptions of the organizations and coordination efforts are included below. Table 1 lists planning documents, programs, and resources, that compliment those of Nevada City and contribute to the adaptive capacity of the City and surrounding areas.
Table 1. Coordinated Planning Documents and Agreements
Document Most Recent
Revision
Climate
Change
Impact
Update
Cycle Responsible Entity
Nevada County Safety Element Update 2019 Multi-hazard 5 years Nevada County Planning Department
Ready Nevada County Extreme Climate Event
Mobility and Adaptation Plan
In Progress
(2022)
Multi-hazard Nevada County
Transportation
Commission
Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
(2017-2022) Currently being updated.
2017 Multi-hazard 5 Years Nevada County OES
Nevada County and Nevada Operational Area
Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) aka
“Disaster Plan”
2011 Multi-hazard 3 Years Nevada County OES
Nevada County Contingency Plan for
Excessive Heat Emergencies.
2017 Extreme Heat Reviewed
Annually
Nevada County OES
Nevada County Community Wildfire
Protection Plan
2016 Wildfire Nevada County OES
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Document Most Recent
Revision
Climate
Change
Impact
Update
Cycle Responsible Entity
Nevada County Wildfire Preparedness Action
Plan
2019 Wildfire Nevada County OES
Nevada County Wildfire Evacuation
Preparedness Action Plan
2020 Wildfire Nevada County OES
Nevada Irrigation District (NID) Drought
Contingency Plan and Urban Water
Management Plan
2021 Drought 5 Years Nevada Irrigation District
Automatic Aid Agreement 2018 Wildfire CAL FIRE,
Nevada County
Consolidated Fire District,
Nevada City Fire
Department,
Grass Valley Fire
Department
Nevada County Joint Operational Area and
Joint Operations Agreement
2014 Wildfire NCCFD, NCFD, Grass
Valley Fire Department
Nevada County Consolidated Fire District
(NCCFD) Strategic Fire Plan (2016-2021)
2016 Wildfire 5 Years NCCFD
S. Agency Collaboration
A key to the success of managing public safety is collaborative programs between various federal, state, and local agencies. For example, to improve stewardship of California’s forests, the State of California and the U.S. Forest Service launched a joint state-federal initiative in 2020 to reduce wildfire risks, restore watersheds, protect habitat and biological diversity, and help the state meet its climate objectives. The Agreement for Shared Stewardship of California’s Forest and Rangelands includes a commitment by the federal government to match California’s goal of reducing wildfire risks on 500,000 acres of forest land per year. That means these agencies share in this effort to reduce wildfire risk on one million acres of forest land in California. From this resource, the City can work with Nevada County Office of Emergency Services, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, Nevada County Fire District, the State’s Office of Emergency Services, CAL FIRE, and many of the City’s related Fire Safe Councils to ensure effective wildfire mitigation improvements to forests within and around the City.
Section 3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND PLAN ADOPTION
Public input was received through workshops conducted on July 29 and September 2, 2022, and June 29, 2023, with the City Planning Commission and City Council. A public presentation to the City’s Fire Safety Committee was also held on September 15, 2021, which included a number of Firewise neighborhood groups. Letters were sent to various public agencies and outreach conducted through newsletters on the City’s website. In addition, a public noise workshop was held at Pioneer Park on March 16, 2022, to both conduct noise tests at the Park and to provide opportunities for the public to offer comments and ask questions. To expand public outreach
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and understand public preferences, an on-line public safety survey was conducted between August 1 and November 1, 2021. The survey and results have been included in Appendix E of this Element. Comments and responses received from this process were used to help identify and address public safety concerns that are addressed in this Element. Special outreach meetings were held with various interest groups and agencies including the Nevada City Fire Safety Committee, Nevada County OES, the Nevada County Transportation Commission, various Firewise neighborhood groups, and Sierra Fund. Letters were sent to interested public agencies to obtain input regarding public safety issues and concerns. The draft Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Update was made available at City Hall and was posted on the City’s website for review and comments and public agencies were notified and requested input on this Element.
Details of this public participation process are provided in Appendix E of this Element.
3.1 Technical Steering Committee
A technical steering committee was assembled by City staff to help drive the CAPSE Update. A number of meetings were held throughout the project. The Committee was composed of various County and City staff and public interests and provided direction through the process of developing this Element (see Appendix E Public Participation of this Element for more details).
3.2 City Planning Commission Approval
During a noticed public hearing, the Planning Commission, on August 31, 2023, approved General Plan Amendment 2022-01 consisting of the CAPSE.
3.3 Nevada City Council Adoption
During a noticed public hearing, the City Council, on September 13, 2023, adopted the CAPSE.
Section 4 EXISTING/PROJECTED CONDITIONS AND HAZARD PROFILES
4.1 Community Character
For thousands of years, Nevada City environs were inhabited by Paleo-Indians including the Southern Maidu, otherwise known as Nisenan. Nevada City, founded in 1850 and incorporated on April 19, 1856, is the county seat of Nevada County. Nevada City started as a gold-mining community over 150 years ago and is now characterized as a modern City but still with modest cottages, elegant Victorian houses and impressive classic brick buildings. At 2,500 feet above sea level, Nevada City is surrounded by forest. The City’s incorporated boundaries include a total area of 1,376 acres. The City’s General Plan Area boundaries, which include the City’s incorporated area is expanded beyond, consisting of approximately 4,172 acres (see Figure 1).
The General Plan Area boundary is intended to allow the City to look at the potential impacts on the City from future development, potential annexation, and other changes outside the City’s jurisdictional boundaries.
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Owing to its exposed location on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Nevada City receives moderate to heavy rainfall for California at 59 inches, though its climate is otherwise fairly typical for the State. Although exceedingly heavy snow falls on the nearby mountains, it very rarely falls in the City. During a typical year, there are 31 days with temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and, conversely, 75 freezing nights, and 60 days where the temperature fails to reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Urbanization within the City primarily consists of residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses typical of small cities. The majority of land uses and housing outside the City generally consists of low density and rural residential, open space, undeveloped land, agricultural uses and intermittently located commercial and industrial uses.
A. Climate Change on the Community
Due to climate change influence in the coming decades Nevada County and Nevada City will experience more fires, floods, droughts, and extreme heat than ever before. Through the development of this Element, the community has called for proactive measures that build resilience amid increasing climate hazards (see Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, Appendix A of this Element). This Element outlines the existing hazard conditions and other public safety issues in Nevada City, including geologic and seismic hazards, flood hazards, fire hazards (urban and wildland), public safety, emergency management, hazardous materials, severe weather, winter hazards, extreme heat, drought, and climate change vulnerability. It provides details pertaining to probable locations where each hazard or issue is likely to occur (per availability of data), past notable events in and around the City, agencies responsible for providing protection from these public safety issues, and other background information required by the State. This Element evaluates safety concerns, measures the City is taking to address these concerns, and measures it needs to take to create greater sustainability to climate change.
Section 5 of this Plan presents goals and cross-cutting policies and programs that are discussed in this section intended to broadly improve our community’s ability to endure and recover from a range of safety disturbances.
4.2 Safety Category Profiles
There is a wide range of community safety factors addressed in this CAPSE. Each is profiled in the following sections that are located within the City’s jurisdictional boundaries, and to the extent information is available, within the entire General Plan Boundary of Nevada City. Each hazard section is evaluated based on impacts it can have on the City and overall general plan planning area. The profiles also look at the magnitude/severity, previous occurrences of hazard events, and the likelihood of future occurrences. The anticipated frequencies of hazard events are based on past records of these hazards. Climate change and other factors may alter these frequencies in the future, including making some hazard events occur more often. Climate change factors are summarized in Section 4.2.A below, integrated into other sections of this Element and addressed in more detail related to climate change influences within Appendix A Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of this Element.
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A. Climate Change, Resiliency, and Adaptive Capacity (CC) The impacts of climate change pose an immediate and growing threat to California's economy, environmental and public health. As with all other parts of the State, the City will continue to experience effects of climate change in different ways that can further impact public safety.
Senate Bill 379 requires the Safety Element to include a set of goals, policies, and objectives based on a vulnerability assessment identifying the risks that climate change poses to the local jurisdiction and the geographic areas at risk from climate change impacts. A complete vulnerability assessment was conducted for this Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Update in 2021 (see Appendix A of the CAPSE). Additional risks to public safety from climate change are identified in the following points:
Higher Temperatures
Climate change is expected to:
• Continue to increase across the Sierra Nevada region in the coming decades. The average warming projected to increase average annual temperatures by over four degrees for the region from 63.8°F currently to 67.9°F in the next 20 years. • Increase the occurrence of extreme heat events which can particularly impact vulnerable populations. Extreme heat events are defined as days in which the daily maximum temperature exceeds 96.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Intensify the duration of extreme heat events and heat waves, which are likely to increase the risk of mortality and morbidity due to heat-related illness and exacerbation of existing chronic health conditions. Those most at risk and vulnerable are elderly individuals with chronic health issues, such as heart and lung disease, diabetes, and mental illnesses, infants, the socially or economically disadvantaged, the homeless, and those who work outdoors.
• Increase risks to vulnerable populations increase when critical infrastructure is not designed, operated, and/or maintained to function effectively or can be damaged by extreme heat events.
• Melt the Sierra snowpack and drive the snowline higher, resulting in less snowpack water storage for water supply later in the season.
• Reduce snowpack, and earlier snowmelt which can increase wildfire and wildfire intensity potential through increased plant moisture stress (grasses drying sooner, tree and shrub water content decreased.)
• Increase insect populations, which affect forest health and reduce forest resilience to wildfires. For example, several species of pine bark beetles have gone from one hatch
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per year to three or four hatches per year due to milder temperatures and shorter wintersnow season.
More Intensive Wildfires
Climate change is expected to:
• Result in increased wildfire intensity and extent will increase public safety risks, property damage, fire suppression and emergency response costs to government, air quality impacts from smoke, watershed and water quality impacts, vegetation conversions, and habitat fragmentation.
More Severe Weather and Storms
Climate change:
• May result in increased precipitation intensities with larger storms or wet periods, producing little net change in precipitation totals but more extreme conditions throughout. The amount of precipitation from the largest storms is projected to increase by 5-30 percent compared to historical norms.
• Is expected to intensify rainfall events, periodically with larger than historical runoff, that will lead to more frequent and /or more extensive flooding. Flooding projections for 100- and 500-year (1% and 0.2% annual chance flood) events reflect higher frequencies. • Is thought to increase potential losses or damages to the City’s infrastructure, roads, bridges, government buildings, and the many buildings located in the historic downtown due to uncontained spread of wildland fire, severe weather events, or storm flooding.
Given the age and nature of historic buildings, structural losses or damages may represent permanent or irrecoverable harm to the downtown.
• May increase risk of landslides and mudslides in sloped areas including those occurring after wildfires during large storm events. Landslides and mudslides are often triggered by large, intense winter storms, which can oversaturate the ground and cause fast-moving debris flows, especially in areas previously affected by wildfires due to lack of vegetation.
The Climate Vulnerability Assessment provides a detailed assessment of some of the steps the City has taken to reduce safety risks from climate change, such as coordinating with other agencies and fire safe organizations to address potential disasters and avoid risk, and the preparation and implementation of the Drought Action, Water Shortage Contingency and Energy Action plans. Solutions to reduce risk from climate change are emphasized in the assessment by using adaptive capacity strategies. Adaptive capacity is the ability to cope with climate change.
Types of adaptive capacity include adjustments in behavior, resources, and technologies. The City has already taken several steps to increase the community’s adaptive capacity, which include encouraging water preservation and conservation, promoting renewable energy and energy
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conservation, coordinating with regional fire districts, and implementing wildfire mitigation activities within the City. The City has also conducted fire break maintenance and fire clearing projects, such as on Sugarloaf Mountain, Indian Trails Subdivision, and land near the Little Deer Creek Trail. Strategies and programs recommended in this assessment have been included in the Goals, Objectives, Policies, and Programs in this Plan. Some of these include:
• Enhance adaptive capacity strategies to address increased temperature, air quality reductions especially due to wildfire smoke, intermittent storm flooding, drought, and wildfire.
• Improve the City’s disaster planning efforts to integrate other hazards of concern such as increased temperature, air quality reductions especially due to wildfire smoke, and intermittent storm flooding.
• Develop a Vegetation Management Plan to guide the actions of the City departments responsible for open space and park management applicable to climate hazards. • Continue and enhance the City’s coordination with existing stakeholders to improve climate resilience including improved communication programs between Fire Districts and Firewise Communities.
• Advocate and support wildfire mitigation activities and secure resources, such as from the County and CAL FIRE that reduce wildfire risks such as conducting prescribed burns, fuel load reductions, and fire break maintenance.
Discussions on climate adaptation, adaptive capacity, and resiliency are noted throughout this section of this Element, as they relate to wildfire, flooding, emergency preparedness, evacuation, flooding, severe weather, public safety services and facilities, hazardous materials, and geologic hazards. A climate vulnerability assessment is noted at the end of each section this hazard section of the CAPSE.
Climate Change and Water Supply
The City is dependent of water supplies from Deer Creek and Little Dear Creek which comes from the Sierra snowpack. Water delivery from these sources could be impacted by changing climate temperatures and precipitation characteristics from climate change. The City’s water delivery systems are managed by both the City and Nevada Irrigation District (NID). A more detailed discussion of the City’s water supply and delivery system is presented in Section C, but this discussion focusses on how climate change may impact the City’s water sources.
The City’s 2015 Drought Action Plan includes measures that need to be taken in the event of a drought. This is independent from NID, but NID also has drought event measures that can apply to the City. NID undertook an analysis of climate change impacts on future water supplies. The analysis included projecting future hydrologic conditions and their potential effect on the District’s water supplies, specifically watershed runoff. The 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
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concludes that local climate change impacts will likely affect future supplies. However, the report states that the magnitude of such impacts are not yet fully understood, and the District is in the process of further evaluating this. Much of this evaluation and need to create a sustainable water supply is outside the City’s control, but the City sees this as an opportunity to address climate change and future water supply needs collaboratively with NID and other stakeholders.
This CAPSE includes policies to address the City’s future water supply needs through collaborative efforts with NID and other policies and programs linking the City’s Drought Action Plan to assure measures are taken to address water supply sustainability during a drought.
Reducing Carbon Footprint
As way to encourage reduced global warming caused by vehicular emissions, the City promotes the use and electric vehicles and equipment. The City adopted regulations to streamline the review and permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations in 2017. The City recently installed six EV charging stations in the Commercial Street Public Parking Lot . To further promote the use of electrical vehicles the City should consider installing additional charging stations within other public parking lots, along high use public streets, and employee parking. The CAPSE includes policies/programs to replace or add new vehicles/equipment with electrical systems where practical. The City actively promotes alternative transportation modes, such as improving and expanding bicycle facilities and pedestrian trails.
B. Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation (EP)
This section discusses the community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and plan for a major disaster focused on emergency planning, preparedness and evacuation.
Ready Nevada County
Evacuations normally occur due to hazard incidents or disasters that cause large numbers of people to flee the area in all types of vehicles or other modes over all roads regardless of size or legal restrictions. Evacuations are often marked by a sense of panic among the evacuees as stress and fear levels are high. Individuals, groups, and families (including pets) evacuate as quickly as possible, and usually only after finding themselves away from their residence do they consider food, water, clothing, medical care, shelter, or Right-of-Entry (ROE) form (to allow for recovery activities to occur on private property).
Ready Nevada County is a multifaceted, stakeholder effort coordinated by the Nevada County OES to raise awareness and mobilize the community to prevent and prepare for wildfire and other hazards and disaster events. This effort helps the community prepare for wildfire and other hazard related events through increased planning, strategic partnerships, improved communication, and ongoing public engagement. As a central part to Ready Nevada County, the CodeRed System breaks Nevada City up into several Evacuation Zones; NEV E-252, 284, 290, 292, and 304 as shown on Figure 3. The zones are bisected by Highways 20 and 49 and Deer Creek. (more detailed information can be found at https://nevadacountyca.gov/679/EmergencyServices-Maps). Since evacuations are typically planned regionally, this map shows how the
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zones relate to all areas of Nevada County including neighboring Grass Valley to the south of Nevada City. This system is used by Nevada City, Nevada County (and other counties and cities in California), as a mass notification system. The CodeRed service agreement includes high-speed notification technology allowing Nevada County to more effectively communicate time sensitive messages and includes the following provisions:
• Access to a web-based alert notification system
• Ability to access and activate the service via phone, email, text alerts • Integration and geocoding of supplied 911 database
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Figure 3. Nevada City Evacuation Zones
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During an evacuation the responsible jurisdictional law enforcement agency, under the direction of the incident commander is responsible for directing and facilitating the continued movement of evacuees. Fire departments and fire protection districts may be requested to assist law enforcement with traffic control. The Nevada County OES coordinates with the American Red Cross and the Nevada County Department of Social Services to establish temporary shelters, if requested to do so by the Incident Commander.
Evacuation routes during an incident are developed in real time and are dependent on the type of incident, the urgency of the impending threat, and the direction of threat. The public may be notified using door-to-door notification methods; local media via radio, television, Internet; and/or activation of the emergency alert notification system. Routes designated in the City’s Circulation Element, this CAPSE, and the Nevada County General Plan as interstates, freeways, highways, and other principal arterial routes are considered primary evacuation routes. Such routes provide the highest levels of capacity and contiguity and serve as the primary means of egress during an evacuation from the City and ingress for emergency personnel. Evacuation out of town is limited to State Route 20 and 49 described in more detail as follows:
1. State Route 20 (SR 20) connects the City of Grass Valley with Yuba County to the west of Grass Valley and continues north of Nevada City, connecting to I-80. The highway portion between SR 20 to the west of Grass Valley and SR 20 north to Nevada City is signed as shared SR 49/20 and is a principal arterial. This shared route is named the "Golden Center Freeway" between Route 49 of Grass Valley and SR 20 of Nevada City.
2. State Route 49 (SR 49) runs north/south and is a principal arterial for Nevada County, connecting the cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City with I-80 in Auburn (Placer County) to the south. SR 20 and SR 49 also serve as an emergency detour route for I-80. SR 49 is the lifeline for much of Nevada County's freight and lumber traffic and also provides access to recreational and tourist attractions. To the west of Nevada City, this route continues in a northerly direction to the Nevada/Yuba County line.
In 2022, Nevada County created an evacuation pre-planning tool that simulates detailed models for evacuations, traffic times, and road congestion scenarios for disasters such as wildfires and flooding. This application allows users to create a real-time visualization for predictive forecasting for evacuations. Emergency service personnel, such as the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services, model evacuation capacities and plan for needed infrastructure/facilities and target fire fuel removal along evacuation routes. This tool is also available to the public so residents can run evacuation simulations themselves via the Ready Nevada County Website at:
https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/2792/Preparedness-Toolkit Climate Adaptation and Evacuation
In 2019, the State adopted SB 99 that requires review and update of the Safety Element to include information to identify residential developments in hazard areas that do not have at
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 28
least two emergency evacuation routes. As shown on Figure 4 the City has over 40 neighborhoods that have only one route for egress/ingress.
Figure 5 and Figure 6, provide a higher resolution of these neighborhoods. This is intended to assist the City with identifying opportunities to improve connectivity and evacuation capacity generally.
Assembly Bill AB 747, also adopted in 2019, requires that the Safety Element be reviewed and updated to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios. This type of analysis requires detailed traffic analysis that identifies constraints and improves evacuation. The Nevada County OES received funding from CAL FIRE to conduct an Evacuation Study that will include Nevada City. The requirements under both SB99 and AB-747 will be addressed as part of this study expected to be completed in 2024.
Climate Change and Emergency Services, Facilities, and Evacuation: Severe Weather Climate change is expected to cause an increase in intense storms, higher temperatures, and other weather hazards that can impact emergency services, facilities and evacuations. For example, flooding can reduce the ability for residents to evacuate due to road wash outs. More detailed information on this is found in the Climate Change and Resiliency and Adaptive Capacity Section A.
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Figure 4. Nevada City Neighborhoods with Only a Single Route for Egress-Ingress
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Figure 5. North Nevada City Single Route for Egress-Ingress Areas
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Figure 6. South Nevada City Single Route for Egress-Ingress Areas
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C. Fire and Protection (FP)
Three types of fires are of concern to Nevada City: (1) wildfires, (2) wildland-urban interface fires, and (3) structural fires.
Wildfires
Wildfire is defined as an uncontrolled fire spreading through vegetative fuels that poses a threat to life and/or property. Wildfires can be ignited by natural events, such as lightning strikes, or can be caused by damaged infrastructure (e.g., downed power lines) or human activities (e.g., campfires, arson). Wildfires can move quickly, casting embers into downwind areas and spreading to developed areas, putting human lives and properties at risk. Three factors that contribute significantly to wildfire behavior are topography, fuel, and weather (see Figure 7).
Figure 7. Wildfire Behavior Triangle
Topography – An area’s terrain and slope affect its susceptibility to wildfire spread. Both fire intensity and the rate of spread increase as slope increases because heat from a fire tends to rise through convection. For this reason, wildfires tend to spread more slowly downhill.
The arrangement of vegetation on a hillside can also contribute to increased or decreased fire activity on slopes.
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Fuel – The type, condition, and volume of fuel material are key factors that influence wildfire behavior. Fuel sources are diverse and can include dead vegetative matter, live trees, brush, and cured grasses. Buildings and other structures, such as homes, can also be sources of fuel. Certain types of vegetation are more susceptible to burning or will burn with greater intensity, and dead, dry plant matter tends to burn more easily than living plant matter. Thus, fire risk is increased significantly during periods of prolonged drought. The density of vegetation increases the amount of combustible material available, also called the fuel load.
Weather – Weather components such as temperature, relative humidity, wind, and lightning also affect the potential for wildfire. High temperatures and low relative humidity dry out fuels that feed wildfires, creating a situation where fuel will ignite more readily and burn more intensely.
Thus, during periods of drought, the threat of wildfire increases. Wind is one of the most treacherous weather factors. The greater a wind, the faster a fire will spread and the more intense it will be. Winds can be significant at times in Nevada County and the City. North winds in Nevada County are especially conducive to hot, dry conditions, which can lead to “red flag” days indicating extreme fire danger. In addition to wind speed, wind shifts can occur suddenly due to temperature changes or the interaction of wind with topographical features such as slopes or steep hillsides. Lightning also ignites wildfires, often in difficult to reach terrain for firefighters.
History of Wildfires
Nevada County has a long history of wildfire and fire management, having experienced a total of 170 fires larger than 300 acres between 1900 and 2010. During the period covered by the Nevada County LHMP fire perimeters map, 1950-2010, the three urban population centers in the county, including Nevada City, did not receive direct wildland fire damage, though all three cities (Nevada City, Grass Valley, and Truckee) have had significant fire damage prior to 1880. When CAL FIRE responds to a major emergency incident, such as an extended day wildfire of 10 acres or greater, the incident is logged in the CAL FIRE Incident Database. According to the CAL FIRE Incident Database there were 20 wildfire incidents recorded for Nevada County between 2011 and August of 2021, that burned a total of 17,524 acres. Of those, 6 fires burned more than 300 acres in a single incident, with the average area burned being 2,805 acres. Recent large fires include the Jones Fire that burned 705 acres in Nevada County northwest of Nevada City in August of 2020, and the River Fire that burned 2,619 acres in Nevada and Placer Counties in August of 2021.
Figure 8 show a history of wildfires around Nevada City.
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Figure 8. Wildfire History
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Wildland-Urban Interface Fires
The greatest risk for loss of life, property, and structures is associated with fires along the wildland-urban interface (WUI). WUI is a term describing development that is interspersed or adjacent to landscapes that support wildland fire. Nevada City is surrounded by natural wooded areas and open space. Figure 9 (from CAL FIRE) shows the WUI where dense housing development is located next to vegetation that can burn in a wildfire. This map also shows areas that are interspersed with development that is dominated by wildland vegetation subject to wildfire. The General Plan area, including the City, is almost entirely located within a wildlandurban interface zone. Users should consult the most recent available mapping, available from CAL FIRE’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) at https://frap.fire.ca.gov/. Future updates to this Safety Element will incorporate new mapping data as it becomes available.
In the WUI, efforts to prevent ignitions and limit wildfire loss hinge on hardening structures and creating defensible space through a multi-faceted approach, which includes engineering, enforcement, education, emergency response, and economic incentive. Multiple strategies in the WUI help to limit the spread of fire and reduce the risk to people and property.
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Figure 9. Wildland-Urban Interface Zones (most current map on CAL FIRE website shall apply here)
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Wildfire Hazard Severity Zones
As part of the Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP), CAL FIRE was mandated to map areas of significant fire hazards based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors.
These zones, referred to as Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ), then define the application of various mitigation strategies to reduce risk associated with wildland fire hazards. Risk is the chance associated with the hazard. Fire hazard is a way to measure the physical fire behavior so that people can predict the damage a fire is likely to cause. Fire hazard measurement includes the speed at which a wildfire moves, the amount of heat the fire produces, and most importantly, the burning fire brands that the fire sends ahead of the flaming front.
The entire City most of the General Plan area is located within a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and most of the areas surrounding the City are also in this zone (refer to Figure 10). One of the biggest safety concerns of the City is the large amount of fuel load located within the unincorporated lands surrounding the City. Wildfires can start in these areas and can spread to the City and can potentially become a catastrophic fire. During wildfire season, this becomes a major challenge to address when wind, temperature and humidity can combine to enlarge fires very quickly. Also, many roadways in the City are single-lane, some private that are not Citymaintained which result in restrictive access with constrained evacuation capacity.
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Figure 10. Fire Hazard Severity Zones (most current map on CAL FIRE website shall apply here)
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Structural Fires
Structural fires occur in developed environments, destroying buildings and other human-made structures. Structural fires are often caused by faulty wiring or mechanical equipment, and combustible construction materials, but can be caused by a variety of sources, including human carelessness. The absence of fire alarms and fire sprinkler systems often exacerbate the damage associated with a structural fire. Structural fires are caused largely from human accidents, although deliberate fires (arson) may be a cause of some events. Older buildings that lack modern fire safety features may face greater risk of damage from fires. To minimize fire damage and loss, the City’s Building fire codes, have been developed based on California Code of Regulations, Title 24, sets standards for building and construction. It requires the provision of adequate water supply for firefighting, fire-resistant construction, defensible space, and minimum street widths, among other things.
Wildfire Smoke
While at risk from the impacts of wildfires, the City and its residents are also susceptible to impacts of smoke from the surrounding region. Due to wind patterns, wildfires in northern California in general can greatly reduce air quality in the City and cause public health impacts as well as impacts to tourism and normal community functions. Community public health factors that can increase the impacts of wildfire smoke include the prevalence of asthma in children and adults; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; hypertension; diabetes; obesity; percent of population 65 years of age and older; and indicators of socioeconomic status including poverty, income, and unemployment. Exposure to wildfire smoke, particularly exposure to vulnerable populations, can result in worsening of respiratory symptoms, increased rates of cardiorespiratory emergency visits, hospitalizations, and even death. Wildfire smoke can also have impacts on the labor market and the economy in general, with air quality affecting the ability of outdoor workers to perform their work and impact industries that operate in the open air (e.g., wineries, recreation activities, sporting events). This Element includes policies/programs to support community programs that educate the public and provide weather shelters for vulnerable populations including use of shelters during major smoke events.
Future Land Use
Figure 2, General Plan Land Use Map, illustrates the land use planning within the General Plan Areas including the City. Planned and existing uses were established overthe 100 plus years since the City was incorporated in1856. The Land Use Map also shows future land use within these areas as shown on Figure 9 and Figure 10, located in both wildland-urban interface areas and the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Most of the areas within the City’s 1,400-acre jurisdictional boundaries are built out. However, surrounding areas included in the 4,200-acre General Plan Area have some potential for development. Future development in these other areas is under the land use jurisdiction of Nevada County. However, some may be annexed to the City in the future depending on the need to extend City services. For the most part, these other areas are identified both by Nevada County and the City’s General Plans for lower density residential and open space.
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Before approving a tentative subdivision map or parcel map within the State Responsibility Area or a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the City must make certain findings that the proposed subdivision is consistent with fire safety and defensible space according to Public Resources Code §§ 64290 and 4291. After approval the City must notify the State Board of Forestry of the action.
A specific program has been developed to establish this City process.
There are several other goals, policies, and programs in this CAPSE to reduce fire danger for existing and proposed development within the City’s jurisdictional boundaries that would also apply to any areas annexed within the General Plan Area. The CAPSE includes a policy to coordinate with NCCFD, the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, and the Nevada County LAFCO during review of development proposals and/or annexations to ensure that new development and the associated uses be constructed in accordance with the City’s fire regulations which are also in compliance with State regulations, and located where fire and emergency services have sufficient capacity to meet project needs (or require that they be upgraded to provide necessary capacity as part of the proposed development activities). Due to mutual aid arrangements between Nevada City, NCCFD and Grass Valley Fire Department, annexation does not affect fire safety service.
Climate Change and Wildfires
As previously discussed in Section 4.2 A, the effects of climate change, including increased temperatures, and changes to precipitation patterns, will exacerbate many of the factors that contribute to wildfire risk, such as available fuels. While the impact of climate change on wind speeds is still uncertain, it is important to recognize this potential effect and how it may also contribute to wildfire risk in the future.
Increased variability in precipitation may lead to wetter winters and increased vegetative growth in the spring, and longer and hotter summers will lead to the drying of vegetative growth and ultimately result in a greater amount of readily burned fuel for fires. This has already been seen across the State in recent years, with the area burned by wildfires increasing in parallel with rising air temperatures. These factors, combined with the increasing frequency and severity of intense wind conditions, will cause fires to spread rapidly and irregularly, making it difficult to predict fires’ paths and effectively deploy fire suppression forces.
Relative humidity is also an important fire-related weather factor; as humidity levels drop, the dry air causes vegetation moisture levels to decrease, which consequently increases the likelihood that plant material will ignite and burn. With an increase in hotter and drier landscapes, humidity levels may continue to drop and result in higher fuel loads, increasing the risk of wildfire.
Severe Weather Factors
Severe winter storms can also impact the City and simultaneously increase the danger of wildfire by leaving dead or dying vegetation. This dead vegetation can serve as fuel for wildfires and can require clean up to avoid increased wildfire exposure. For example, in December 2021, a storm
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downed hundreds of trees and knocked out power to homes across Nevada County, leaving an overabundance of vegetation in its wake. This may be viewed as further need to address severe climate change impacts from wildfires.
Fire Season
Generally, the fire season extends from early spring through late fall of each year during the hotter, dryer months. This has been changing in recent years making the fire season almost a year around occurrence. Fire conditions arise from a combination of high temperatures, lowmoisture content in the air and plant matter, an accumulation of vegetation, and high winds. The extreme fire behavior observed over the last 20 years is a product of these three elements and the exponential influences of climate change. In addition to this formula, the fire management constraints, which include increasing population growth within the WUI (i.e., increased development adjacent to forests and other highly flammable vegetated landscapes), that creates the potential for increased human ignitions, can lead to large scale, extremely impactful wildfires.
As previously noted in the Climate Change section of the CAPSE regarding the Wildfire Behavior Triangle, a number of factors contribute to the high wildfire hazard risks in the City and County (see Figure 7).
Water Supply and Fire Flow Capacity
Water supply and distribution is essential for fire protection and public safety. An assured supply of water and distribution/delivery capacity needs to be considered, particularly in all areas of the City due to its location in a Very High Fire Severity Zone.
Nevada City Water Service Area
The City is the water service provider for approximately 70 percent of the City’s jurisdictional boundaries consisting of the original 1856 640-acre City boundary and other portions within current City limits that have lower elevations (see Figure 11). The City’s water treatment facility is located southeast of the City at 11297 Banner Mountain Trail. This facility treats water from Little Deer Creek and delivers water through a gravity flow system. The City currently supplies about 900 acre-feet (AF) of water per year (AFY) for all classes of customers, with 600 AF per year coming from Little Deer Creek and the needed balance coming from the NID. The Nevada City portion includes 1,350 connections with a water treatment plant capacity of 2.0 million gallons/day (mgd). Since current maximum daily demand is approximately 1.5 mgd there is currently sufficient water supply for the City’s service area.
Nevada Irrigation Water Service and Area
The remainder of the incorporated City areas, comprising approximately 30 percent of the City’s boundaries are served by the NID for treated water. Also, all areas outside the City’s jurisdictional boundaries within the City’s Planning Area either are being serviced by NID or would be if public water service can be practically extended. Due to higher elevations in many areas outside the City’s water service area, NID can serve since they provide and maintain pressure zones with
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equipment that the City does not have. The City also purchases raw water from NID during late summer months to provide additional water supplies during peak demand to ensure the City water supply. This has been the arrangementsince before NID was a District. The City historically purchased raw water from various canal districts that preceded NID.
Figure 11. Water Service Boundaries
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Source of Water Supply
NID’s primary source of supply is local surface water derived principally from the Yuba River, Bear River, and Deer Creek watersheds of which approximately 450,000 AFY is stored and/or delivered. NID supplies water to the City through an ongoing agreement. NID provides treated water for its service territory in and around Nevada City from the Elizabeth George water treatment plant southeast of Nevada City on Banner Mountain Road. The Elizabeth George water treatment plant has a capacity of 10 mgd and a usage commitment of 7.6 mgd. NID service boundaries, including the areas served in the City and City planning area, have a current capacity of 24 mgd. For the period 2014 through 2020, annual deliveries to the City averaged approximately 3 mgd to the City. Additional water supplies for future growth in the City are dependent on future allocations from NID and may be impacted by any conservation measures taken by the City.
The NID 2020 Urban Water Management Plan indicates that there is adequate water supply for its entire region based on future land use projections to 2050. This projection assumes Nevada City has a projected demand of 500 AFY, which should satisfy Nevada City’s water supply needs through 2050. The General Plan Housing Element growth projections to 2027 indicate an aggressive growth rate of12 percent population increase (400 people) between 2019 and 2027.
Much of this is due to some of the more recent housing developments that have been approved and are being constructed. The excess supply of water assumed in NID’s plan exceeds this anticipated growth demand. It is noted that the NID 2020 Urban Management Plan includes accounting for future droughts, that may include required conservation measures, with priority given to urban users, such as the City.
Fire Flow
All areas within the City have adequate fire flow to all lines within the City. However, upper elevations of the City have some limited fire flow because of reduced pressures. The City and NID have formal agreements for two interties to augment the system to insure adequate fire flow throughout the City. These interties have been employed in emergency situations and have proven adequate for demands of up to 1,000,000 gallons in 12 hours.
The City has approximately 20 miles of water mains, of which 4.8 miles are over 140 years old.
The Nevada County LHMP indicates that these aging lines can reduce capacity for fire flow due to corrosion and carbuncles. Main replacement is considered a high priority in the LHMP. This Element includes policies and programs to prioritize their replacement.
Fire Responsibility Areas and Mutual Aid
From a broad perspective, Nevada County is served by numerous agencies, including CAL FIRE, United States Forest Service, and various local fire departments and districts (see Figure 12). The Nevada City Fire Department serves the entire City jurisdictional boundaries. Areas within the City’s General Plan Area, outside City limits, are served by NCCFD and Grass Valley Fire Department.
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Figure 12. Fire Responsibility Areas (most current map on CAL FIRE website shall apply here)
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In 2018 CAL FIRE, NCCFD, Nevada City Fire Department, Grass Valley Fire Department, entered into an automatic and mutual aid agreement. All participating agencies agreed to provide closest-response service, so that the appropriate apparatus with the shortest response time would respond to emergencies without having to being requested by the agency with jurisdiction over that area. This allowsfor the fastest possible response times, and an increase in aid for SRAs that surround the cities. By providing for faster response and additional resources to help control fires across jurisdictions and in SRAs, the agreement decreases risk across all jurisdictions and helps reduce risk that wildland fire spreads to the WUI and threatens structures within Nevada City and the General Plan Area as well as surrounding communities and territories. These agencies are working on updating this agreement, but the same mutual aid arrangement will be retained.
Fire Protection Plans, Programs, and Resources
The following plans, regulations, and programs assist the City with fire hazard reductions.
The Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)
The 2017 Nevada County LHMP (including Nevada City-Annex B) was adopted in 2017 by Nevada City to meet the requirements of the DMA (see Appendix B of this Element). The LHMP enables the City to be eligible for future pre- and post- disaster mitigation funding. The LHMP assesses the threat of natural and select man-made hazards that pose a risk to people and property and identifies a mitigation strategy that through implementation can reduce the potential for harm to people and property from future disaster and hazard events. The LHMP identifies a list of potential hazards, with each hazard evaluated for severity, vulnerability, and exposure, and determines the potential vulnerability and likely impacts to affected jurisdictions. The hazards included in the LHMP are: Agricultural Hazards (severe weather, insect pests), Avalanche, Climate Change, Dam Failure, Drought and Water Shortage, Earthquake, Flood, Hazardous Materials Transportation, Landslide/Mud Flow, Levee Failure, Severe Weather (extreme cold, extreme heat, extreme storms), Subsidence, Volcano, and Wildfire (smoke, tree mortality, and conflagration). The LHMP is anticipated to be updated in 2023 and approved in 2024. Since the CAPSE has been updated using, primarily, the 2017 LHMP, some changes to the LHMP may result in having to revisit the CAPSE for fine-tuning City programs.
The 2011 Nevada County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan The County’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) delineates responsibilities of First Responders and other response support organizations for natural disasters and manmade incidents in or affecting Nevada County, including the City as part of the operational area. It also includes an emergency operation plan for the City in Chapter 8. Community Emergency Preparedness Guides, which are specific to individual communities in Nevada County, provide the basic information for residents to be prepared for potential disaster. The City’s EOP (in Chapter 8 of the County EOP) similarly provides guidance to various City personnel/departments as to emergency responses to disasters. Both plans work together to provide a coordinated effort
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between the City and the County to respond to disasters. Both County and City EOPs are becoming older and are in need of update.
Nevada City Disaster Plan
The 2011 Disaster Plan reflected the resource availability of the City. An update of this Disaster Plan is needed to address recent changes in the City’s organization structure with emphasis on wildfire and other hazard emergency response, more reliance on other agencies/resources, such as the Nevada County OES, to support City resources, and to consolidate some of the City personnel responsibilities in the Plan.
The California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP)
The California Vegetation Treatment Program, developed by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, is a critical component of the State’s multi-faceted strategy to address California’s wildfire crisis. The CalVTP includes the use of prescribed burning, mechanical treatments, manual treatments, herbicides, and prescribed herbivory as tools to reduce hazardous vegetation around communities in the WUI, to construct fuel breaks, and to restore healthy ecological fire regimes.
As shown on Figure 13, there are a number of fuel breaks modeled in and around Nevada City that will be critical to preventing wildfire spread. Since this program included required California Environmental Quality Act review through an Environmental Impact Report, fuel breaks as modeled in this program can be conducted without further environmental review as long as specific mitigation measures are followed.
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Figure 13. CalVTP Fuel breaks
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Fire Protection Regulations
Most of the City’s General Plan Area, and the entire City, is located within a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. As a result, more restrictive fire protection regulations have been established.
Nevada City conforms with the most recent California Building Standards through Chapter 8.10 of the Municipal Code concerning Vegetation Management, Defensible Space, Burning and Fireworks regulations. These regulations apply to all buildings or structures in a mountainous area; forest-covered, brush-covered, or grass-covered lands; or any land that is covered with flammable material in all areas of the City.
Chapter 15.04 specifically adopted the 2022 edition of the California Building Standards (CBS).
These regulations are also intended to encourage a greater degree of uniformity between the local fire department and other fire protection districts and departments in the imposition of fire safety regulations on new construction and existing buildings, while respecting the autonomy of the local fire protection districts and departments. Chapter 15.08 includes the following amendments to the 2022 CBS:
• Section 15.16.010, Fire Chief designating zones within Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
• Section 15.08.040, prohibits open burning.
• Section 15.08.045, requires auxiliary power generators to have an emergency disconnect switch.
The City also adopted a comprehensive amendment to Chapter 8.10 of the Municipal Code addressing vegetation management, defensible space, and prohibition to outdoor burning and fireworks. This new set of regulations also retains a separate requirement to install sprinkler systems for all new and remodeled residential and commercial development. The new Chapters
8.10 and 15 of the Municipal Code require all new projects and construction to comply with the California Safe Regulations (Title 14, CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 3, Article 3 (commencing with § 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations) for SRAs and/or VHFHSZs. regarding fuel modification and emergency water supply, as well as minimum fire safe driveway and road standards. Under these new regulations new structures built in the City must also comply with fire safety building regulations. Other related requirements in these new regulations will include provisions that require the use of home hardening building materials and establish design standards to improve the ability of a building to survive a wildfire.
Land and Resource Management Plan and the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan The Land and Resource Management Plan and the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment guide fire planning for the Tahoe National Forest. The Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment provides guidance for minimizing wildfires on Federal and tribal lands. California addresses wildfire issues through the California Fire Plan and its local version, the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit Fire Plan.
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These documents focus on reducing fire hazards by addressing pre-fire fuels management for strategic fire suppression. Roads, water storage, buildings, evacuation planning, and other factors associated with private property development are not included in these documents. 2016 Nevada County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
The Nevada County Fire Safe Council has developed a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) based on the requirements of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003, which identifies measures that protect and restore forestland. The CWPP coordinates with the LHMP on wildfire issues. As of the writing of this Element, the Nevada County OES is preparing an updated CWPP which should be completed in early 2024. As defined by the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA), this CWPP is developed collaboratively with the Fire Safe Council, the County’s Firewise Communities and other stakeholders to Identify and prioritize fuel reduction projects and include measures to reduce the ignitability of structures.
Circulation and Maintenance
Roads are critical infrastructure support for suppressing wildfires. They serve as ingress and egress routes to and from wildfires, staging areas, safety zones, coordinating locations, anchor points for fire suppression activities, and evacuation routes. Most initial incident command posts are established at roadside locations to coordinate with incoming fire equipment.
Vegetative management along roadsides is a critical component to reducing fire risk. The width of roads and clearance around roads is a primary factor affecting firefighting operations. Private roads, which network between residences and public roads, provide another avenue for firefighting operations and evacuation. The Nevada County road system consists of 2,360 miles of public and private roads. Nevada City has approximately 30 miles of these roads. The quality and conditions of these roads are variable. Many private roads do not meet the minimum fire safety standards because they pre-date the current code. The County and the City provide for vegetative management of all the public roads inside and adjoining the City.
Air Attacks Fire Fighting
Nevada County is home to an additional distinct emergency resource located at the Nevada County Airport in Grass Valley—the Interagency Wildfire Air Attack Base. This is one of only thirteen (13) Wildfire Air Attack Bases in California, and it is one of three Interagency Wildfire Air Attack Bases in the State (the other two are in Redding and Porterville). The air attack base is operated and staffed by CAL FIRE (Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit) Air Attack, and the U.S. Forest Service (Tahoe National Forest) Air Attack. The strategic location of this air base assists CAL FIRE in achieving its goal of twenty-minute response times anywhere in California, and is located close to Nevada City, which typically received a faster response time.
The White Cloud helitack base and the Washington Ridge Conservation Camp are two more wildfire-fighting resources established in Nevada County. The helitack base has a dedicated crew and the helicopter has water drop capabilities. Washington Ridge Conservation Camp maintains
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fire-fighting hand crews for year-round resources providing fuel reduction assistance within Nevada County communities when they are not fighting wildfires.
Fire Safe Council
The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County is a public benefit, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation formed in 1998 by citizens concerned about the very high potential for catastrophic wildfires.
The mission of the Fire Safe Council is to work to reduce the risk of life and property loss from wildfire. The organization actively seeks public and private funding to provide a wide range of landowner assistance programs, services, and community fuels reduction projects in order to reduce the fire danger for all Nevada County residents. The Fire Safe Council utilizes national and local public education programs to increase public awareness of the high potential for catastrophic wildfire in our communities and adjacent forestland. The Fire Safe Council specifically provides Firewise education and programs to enhance emergency preparedness for catastrophic wildfire; to promote, develop and retain formal Firewise Communities; to network with other Fire Safe Councils, Firewise Communities, government agencies and foundations for the benefit of citizens of Nevada County.
Firewise Communities
Firewise USA is a program administered by the NFPA and provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level.
The Firewise USA program is a part of California’s efforts to ensure communities are prepared against wildfire, and CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal’s new Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation Division works to assist local communities in receiving this designation. These groups have shown their commitment to making their communities safe. A recognized Firewise Community requires communities to coordinate with the Nevada County Fire Safe Council to obtain a risk assessment every 5 years, maintain a three-year community action plan, invest annually in Firewise projects, and have their application documents reviewed and approved by CAL FIRE. Each community maintains a website and coordinates periodic meetings and activities to address fire safety. Working hand and hand with CAL FIRE and local fire districts can significantly reduce the risk of wildfires and spreading. As of January 1, 2022, there were over 65 recognized Firewise Communities in Nevada County, including 8 located within the City’s Planning Area (see Figure 14):
• Deer Creek Southside
• Friends of Banner Mountain
• Greater Cement Hill Neighborhood Association
• Greater Champion Hill Neighborhood Association
• Harmony Firewise Community
• Lake Vera/Round Mountain Firewise Community
• Stonebridge and Willow Valley
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Figure 14. Firewise Communities in the Nevada City Area
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Ready Nevada County
Ready Nevada County is an interactive program used by residents and businesses to provide readiness in the event of an emergency, such as a wildfire. It is accessed on the internet and provides mapping of neighborhoods for evacuation preparedness, includes Code Red (as discussed in the Evacuation section of this document) and provides a coordination tool to agencies, such as the Nevada County OES to provide public awareness and mobilize the community to prevent and prepare for wildfire.
City Fire Safety Advisory Committee
The City established an advisory committee consisting of two Council Members, the Fire Division Chief as a staff liaison, and five City Council appointment community members. The committee scope is, “To promote public fire safety and community involvement to protect Nevada City residents, business owners, visitors, and structures from wildfire.” The Committee meets regularly once a month and is administered and funded by the City. The Committee has helped recommend fire safety programs; created an essential public outreach tool to provide direction; updates and monitors public information programs, such as the City’s wildfire website page; and offers recommendations to the City Council on creative and effective programs to reduce fire hazards in the community.
City Sliver’s Program
The City developed a Slivers program based upon recommendations of the City Fire Safety Advisory Committee. The program identifies non-parcelized (undescribed) pieces of City owned land that are not clearly be identifiable by parcel numbers and to have these properties improved for reduced fire hazards. The program allows community members to adopt these slivers with the adopters maintaining the slivers in fire safe condition.
City Residential Chipping Program
The City has developed a program to provide residents with a no-cost, curb side, chipping service as an incentive to assist in their fire hazard reduction/defensible space efforts and to encourage the reduction of combustible material to small biodegradable chip piles. This program will also allow firefighters to work more efficiently by reducing wildfire risk.
Tree/Brush Removal Program
Nevada City has a program that addresses maintaining approximately 400 acres of open space it owns and maintains consisting of natural forested areas. These areas have a number of trees and vegetation that poses an impact to public health and safety, such as wildfire that can spread to habitable structures. The City’s Engineering and Public Works Department maintains these areas. This section of the Plan includes policies/programs to address this.
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Prescriptive Grazing Program
In 2019, the City helped establish a prescriptive grazing program using a herd of goats to reduce underbrush. The City used this program to reduce underbrush on about 450 acres of forest land the City owns. This program was partially funded by donations from the public.
Website and Community Outreach Programs
The City maintains a website to provide public information on public safety programs. Multiple programs are discussed and links to related Firewise Communities and other programs (such as City Slivers and Chipping programs offered by the City, and Ready Nevada County) are presented.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs
In an effort to prevent fires, the electrical services provider for the City and western Nevada County—Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)—may initiate public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events. Throughout the PSPS events, emergency services in Nevada County remain functional with back-up power supplies. PSPS events pose health and safety risks to all impacted businesses and residents of the City with an elevated risk to more vulnerable communities with less resources available during and after power outages. The City has installed generator power back-up at City Hall, the water and wastewater treatment facilities, and at the Lost Hill water pressure system to provide continuity of services due to PSPS or other power outages.
D. Flood Hazards (FH)
Nevada City is prone to flooding of various types:
• Riverine flooding, which occurs when channels (i.e., the relatively deep, narrow sections of creeks and rivers) cannot contain the flow volume moving through them, causing water to spill out into the overbank areas (i.e., the relatively wide, flat regions on one or both sides of the channel, also called “floodplains”); and
• Localized flooding, which occurs when intense rainfall overwhelms the capacity of local drainage infrastructure; causing the ponding of water; and • Dam inundation flooding, in which impounded water is released because of dam breaching.
Riverine and Localized Flooding
One percent (1%) and 0.2% chance floodplains have been mapped for Nevada City (refer to Figure 15). The City lies outside of the 500-year floodplain, though the land surrounding Deer Creek Ravine, the area west of Scott’s Flat Reservoir through Nevada City, falls within a 1% annual chance floodplain. A small portion of the City is located inside of the 1% annual chance flood zone as defined by the FEMA. Based on a residential parcel analysis from the 2017 Nevada
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County LHMP, there is a total population of 41 residents of the City at risk to flooding. These properties are located next to Deer Creek.
Nevada City has reoccurring flooding at natural water courses (two creeks and five ravines) that flow through historic areas of the City. In particular, Little Deer Creek, Deer Creek, and Oregon Ravine have had flooding from storms at 10-yr or greater frequency. In addition to impacts on businesses and private properties, heavy storm flows have impacted City streets including the “Plaza” intersection of Broad/Boulder/Sacramento/Nevada streets; and the intersection of Commercial/Main/Union streets. Per the Nevada County LHMP and Nevada City Disaster Plan, there is one commercial building at the southwest corner of Broad Street that is below grade level. This is where Deer and Little Deer creeks converge and where flooding is most pronounced near the foot of the City’s commercial district. This conversion point has experienced approximately 3 feet of flood water intrusion and flooding to some commercial buildings during past severe flood events. In both 1995 and 2004, an underground culvert connecting Deer Creek and Little Deer Creek in a parking lot at the intersection of Sacramento Street and Broad Street failed.
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Figure 15. FEMA Flood Zones
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Flooding and other issues caused by severe weather events, primarily heavy rains and thunderstorms, can often pose a risk to the community. Primary concerns include impacts to infrastructure that provides a means of ingress and egress throughout the community. There have been several locations in the City that have been affected by localized flooding:
• Little Deer Creek and Deer Creek – flooding at the ‘Plaza’, located at the intersection of Broad/Boulder/Sacramento/Nevada streets.
• Flooding in Oregon Ravine through downtown and along Commercial Street. This includes intersection of Commercial/ Main/Union streets. • Damage to Pioneer Park caused by flooding from overflow from Little Deer Creek, with resulting damage to the tennis courts, baseball diamond and horseshoe pits. • Failure of an underground culvert that connects Deer Creek and Little Deer Creek in a parking lot at the intersection of Sacramento Street and Broad Street resulting in failure of the parking lot surface.
Regional seasonal flooding in Nevada County is generally associated with annual drainage and runoff from rainstorms. Residential flooding has occurred in the past primarily as a result of clogged drainage ditches and seasonal dry creeks. When flooding does occur, it is usually confined to a portion of the property and recedes usually within a few minutes to a few hours.
The City has adopted floodplain Management Regulations, Chapter 13.20 of the Municipal Code in 1997. It is designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry.
This Plan includes requirements to reduce flood losses including:
• Restricting or prohibiting uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in damaging increases in erosion or flood heights or velocities;
• Requiring that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction; • Controlling the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel flood waters; • Controlling filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage; and
• Regulating the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert flood waters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas.
Future development in the City within floodplains is required to comply with these regulations.
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Dam Failure Flooding
Dams capable of impactingNevada City in event of failure arethe Scotts Flat LakeDam (seen to the right) and the Lower Scotts Flat Lake Dam (known as Deer Creek Diversion Dam), both located north of the City and operated by the NID. Scotts Flat Lake Dam, built in 1948, retains an approximate capacity of about 48,000 acre-feet of
capacity. The Deer Creek Diversion Dam, downstream from Scotts Flat Lake and built in 1928, retains an approximate capacity of 1,400 acrefeet. Figure 16 provides an inventory of dams located in proximity to Nevada City and includes
the inundation areas of Scotts Flat and the Deer
Creek Diversion Dam. The dam inundation areas
are shown separately for each dam on Figure 17
and Figure 18. The larger Scotts Flat Lake poses a
much greater hazard than the lower lake diversion
dam due to the amount of water being stored.
According to data from the California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD), the Scotts Flat Lake Dam is rated as an Extremely High Hazard Dam. The DSOD defines Extremely High as: expected to cause considerable loss of human life or would result in an inundation area with a population of 1,000 or more. Deer Creek Diversion Dam is rated as a High Hazard Dam. It is felt that dam failure inundation would most likely be the result of an earthquake. However, some dam failures are also the secondary result of other natural disasters, such as earthquakes, landslides, extreme storms, or heavy snowmelt. Other causes include equipment malfunction, structural damage, and sabotage.
As noted in the Earthquake section (4.2.B) of the CAPSE, earthquakes are rare in and around Nevada City. Scotts Flat Lake and the Deer Creek Diversion dams are not located within a historical seismic zone. The Nevada County LHMP indicates that although failures could be devastating to the City, based on past earthquake activity and events, it is unlikely that these dams will fail in the future due to an earthquake induced failure. NID, the owner of 15 dams, including the Scotts Flat Lake and the Deer Creek Diversion dams, maintains a comprehensive Dam Safety Program. A seismic safety evaluation was conducted on all of NID’s dams in 2017 that found that both the Scott’s Flat Lake and Deer Creek Diversion dams to be safe relative to earthquake events. NID proactively inspects upgrades and improves its dams and water supply structures as needed and in consultation with regulatory agencies. Engineers monitor dams using instruments, monthly visual inspections, and periodic dam safety reviews to prevent loss of life, personal injury, and property damage from the failure of dams. The safety of each dam is reevaluated with advances in geotechnical, structural, and earthquake engineering and if there is evidence of seepage or ongoing ground movement.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), as required by federal law, has reviewed and approved comprehensive emergency action plans (EAPs) for each of these dams. The EAP
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minimizes the threat to public safety and the response time to an impending or actual sudden release of water from project dams. The EAP is also designed to provide emergency notification when floodwater releases may present the potential for major flooding.
As mandated by the National Dam Inspection Act, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has the authority and responsibility for conducting inspections of all dams. The purpose of these inspections is to check the structural integrity of the dam and associated appurtenant structures, ensuring protection of human life and property. Periodic inspections disclose conditions that might disrupt operation or dam safety.
The Scotts Flat Lake and Deer Creek Diversion dams are constructed with safety features known as “spillways” that allow water to overtop the dam if the reservoir fills too quickly. Spillway overflow events, often referred to as “design failures,” result in increased discharges downstream and increased flooding potential. In a dam failure scenario, the greatest threat to life and property typically occurs in those areas immediately below the dam since flood depths and discharges generally decrease as the flood wave moves downstream. The primary danger associated with dam failure is the high-velocity flooding downstream of the dam and limited warning times for evacuation. According to the 2021 NID Dam Safety Activities Report, a safety upgrade is needed to the Scotts Flatt Dam spillway chute and lower plunge pool. NID issued a contract award in January 2023, for design of plans to replace the entire spillway chute and construct vertical side walls, and a new flip bucket structure. This project scored as the highest hydro project on NID’s Capital Improvement Program. This Element includes a policy to encourage NID to complete this project as soon as possible.
Post-Wildfire Runoff
Post-wildfire runoff represents another risk for flooding because burned areas in the Deer Creek watershed will contribute more runoff and higher sediment loads than vegetated areas. All of the Deer Creek Watershed in the City’s General Plan Area is considered by CAL FIRE to be in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. A policy has been included in this CAPSE to collaborate with other stakeholders, such as Nevada County, to identify key impact areas to evaluate the implications from post-wildfire debris flow scenarios and establish a set of pre-disaster mitigation measures.
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Figure 16. Dam Inventory Map, with Scotts Flat and Deer Creek Diversion Inundation Areas
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Figure 17. Scotts Flat Lake Dam Failure Inundation Area
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Figure 18. Deer Creek Diversion Dam Failure Inundation Area
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Climate Change and Floods
The potential for increased flooding incidents can be caused by climate change. For example, Additional flooding, or intensity of flooding in the City, is predicted from climate change. More detailed information on this is found in the Climate Change and Resiliency and Adaptive Capacity Section A.
E. Geologic Hazards/Seismic Activity (GH)
Geologic conditions encompass the form of the ground surface, the composition and character of soils, rocks, and water at the ground surface and below, and the long-term movement of the Earth’s crust and mantle. These conditions determine the stability of the ground at a site, and how that site will respond to changes caused by people and by the natural forces of earthquakes and weather. Geologic hazards include avalanches, landslides and mudflows, earthquakes, and ground subsidence.
Avalanches
Avalanches consist of a mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside.
Avalanches typically occur in mountainous territory at elevations above 7,000 feet or in areas with steep slopes. Since the City is located below 7,000 feet in elevation (around 2,500) and not surrounded by steep slopes, Nevada City is not subject to any avalanche hazards.
Landslides and Mudflows
Landslides consist of the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. Like landslides, mudflows consist of a form of mass wasting involving fast-moving flow of debris that has become liquified by the addition of water. There have been no disaster declarations associated with landslides or mudflows in Nevada City. However, there are steep slopes in Nevada City that need to be considered for the potential of future landslide and mudflow occurrences. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) provides mapping of landslide susceptibility and incident areas. Based on this mapping, most of Nevada City is located in a Low landslide susceptibility and incident area. A number of policies and programs in this Element should further reduce potential effects from landslides and mudflows (see Figure 19).
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Figure 19. Landslide Incidence and Susceptibility Areas
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Earthquakes
An earthquake is a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action. The frequency and strength of earthquakes depend on the number, type, and location of faults that pass through an area. The City is located in a geologically complex area. Some fault locations and characteristics have been identified, however, recent earthquakes in California have shown that not all active faults are revealed by surface features. A USGS fault map is included as Figure 20 and illustrates there are no known faults in Nevada City, but there are several known to the south, east and west of the City. Seismic conditions in Nevada City have the potential to result in significant harm to people and property. Safety precautions should be based on known factors, as well as an awareness of the limitations to current knowledge. This Plan must consider two of the direct effects of an earthquake: rupture of the ground surface along a fault, and ground shaking that result from fault movement. Other secondary hazards associated with earthquakes include landslides, collapse of pipes and structures, fires, and flooding from dam failure.
Earthquakes can have the following issues related to them:
Surface Rupture
Surface rupture refers to the top of the ground moving unevenly along a fault: one side moves horizontally, vertically, or both with respect to the other side. It typically occurs within an area of linear traces along previous ruptures, which mark a fault zone, and often in concert with movement on adjacent or intersecting faults. Rupture of the ground surface along a fault trace typically occurs during earthquakes of about magnitude 5 or greater. Surface rupture endangers life and property when structures or lifeline facilities are located on, or cross over, a fault. As shown on Figure 20, with no known faults underlying Nevada City, the potential for surface rupture is unlikely.
Ground Shaking
Ground shaking refers to the vibration that occurs in response to displacement along a fault.
Typically, ground shaking has a side-to-side component as well as a vertical component, with the actual movement depending on the type of fault, a site’s distance from the fault, and the rock and soil conditions at the site. Shaking endangers life and property by damaging or destroying structures and lifeline facilities.
Settlement and Liquefaction
Settlement means the ground supporting part of a structure or facility lowers more than the rest or becomes softer, usually because ground shaking reduces the voids between soil particles (and often with groundwater rising in the process). The result can be more strain on the supporting features than they were built to withstand, leading to cracked walls or floors and broken water and sewer lines. Liquefaction is the sudden loss of the soil’s supporting strength due to groundwater filling and lubricating the spaces between soil particles as a result of ground shaking.
Soils with high risk for liquefaction are typically sandy and in creek floodplains or close to lakes.
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In extreme cases of liquefaction, structures can tilt, break apart, or sink into the ground. The likelihood of liquefaction increases with the strength and duration of an earthquake. There are no liquefaction areas known in Nevada City.
According to the USGS, Nevada City is located in a low intensity seismic zone. Alquist-Priolo earthquake fault zones are regulatory zones surrounding the surface traces of active faults in California. The City is not located in an Alquist-Priolo zone. Although there have been numerous occurrences of low magnitude earthquakes in the vicinity of Nevada City according to the USGS, none have had major impacts on the City due to the City’s geographic location in the County.
However, there are a number of unreinforced masonry buildings in the City that are more vulnerable to a seismic event than other buildings. The 2017 Nevada County LHMP cites a number of unreinforced buildings, many located in the downtown, that are susceptible to low intensity. The 2017 Nevada County LHMP Annex B concludes that although the City is subject to some seismic activity, the risk factor of a significant seismic event is relatively low as compared to other places in California.
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Figure 20. Earthquake Faults
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Subsidence
Subsidence is the sinking of the ground due to the movement of underground material causing a shift or collapse. Closed depressions, sinking streams and cavern openings are commonly referred to as karst and contribute to the potential for subsidence to occur. For example, in January of 2017, a karst opened up in Grass Valley. The sinkhole that presented was seven stories deep and 80 feet in diameter when it first formed and occurred when a 7.5 foot-diameter underground culvert for Little Wolf Creek failed.
Another cause for subsidence can also be related to the drawdown of groundwater through well withdrawals/pumpage. Fine-grained sediments (clays and silts) within an aquifer system have been found to be one of the main causes. When fine-grained sediments are originally deposited, they tend to be deposited in random orientations with a lot of interstitial space to store water.
However, when ground water levels decline to historically low levels, the randomly oriented sediments are rearranged into stacks with little interstitial space to store water and the results are subsidence.
A substantial portion of the Nevada City area is underlain by a deep, extensive labyrinth of abandoned mine tunnels that could potentially create subsidence. Many of the subsidence and mine areas in the City are known, but many still remain unknown and untracked. The risk of subsidence to future development can be minimized by accurate recordkeeping and tracking of previously unknown abandoned mines. However, there have been no disaster declarations related to subsidence in Nevada City. Consequently, the 2017 Nevada County LHMP Annex B indicates that subsidence from mines and other causes in the City is unlikely based on the lack of past occurrences (refer to Appendix B of this Element).
Climate Change and Geologic Hazards
Severe Weather from climate change is expected to cause an increase in intense storms and other weather hazards that can increase the occurrence of geologic hazards, such as landslides and mudflows. However, these types of severe weather events are unlikely to influence the potential for future earthquake events. More detailed information on this is found in the Climate Change and Resiliency and Adaptive Capacity Section A.
F. Public Safety Services and Facilities (SF)
Public Safety Services
City government consists of approximately 32 regular full-time employees and 8 departments at the time of preparing the Climate Adaptation and Safety Element update. Key departments involved in emergency operations activities include Police, Fire, Public Works, Water and Wastewater, Administration, and Parks and Recreation. The City has many staff with specific training on the use of specialized equipment or areas of expertise that are essential in implementing mitigation actions. The City also relies on many partner agencies (e.g., local, state,
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federal, private sector, and non-profits) which have capabilities to support hazard mitigation activities including:
• Nevada County – Office of Emergency Services
• Nevada County Public Works Department
• Nevada County Environmental Health Department
• Nevada County Building Department
• Nevada County Sherriff
• Nevada County Consolidated Fire District
• Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital
• American Red Cross
• Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center
• Nevada City Unified School District
• California Highway Patrol
• PG&E
• Fire Safe Council
Critical Facilities
Critical facilities and infrastructure provide essential services to the public, such as preserving the quality of life and providing essential public safety, emergency response, and disaster recovery functions. Different types of critical facilities include medical facilities, evacuation and community centers, potable water and wastewater facilities, fire stations, and local law enforcement stations. A critical facility definition was developed as part of the 2017 Nevada County LHMP:
Any facility, including without limitation, a structure, infrastructure, property, equipment or service, that if adversely affected during a hazard event may result in severe consequences to public health and safety or interrupt essential services and operations for the community at any time before, during and after the hazard event. A critical facility is classified by the following categories: (1) Essential Services Facilities: (2) At-risk Populations Facilities, (3) Hazardous Materials Facilities.
• Essential Services Facilities include, without limitation, public safety, emergency response, emergency medical, designated emergency shelters, communications, public utility plant facilities and equipment, and government operations. Subcategories:
○ Public Safety – Police stations, fire and rescue stations, emergency operations centers
○ Emergency Response – Emergency vehicle and equipment storage and essential governmental work centers for continuity of government operations.
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○ Emergency Medical – Hospitals, emergency care, urgent care and ambulance services.
○ Designated Emergency Shelters and Weather Shelters.
○ Communications – Main hubs for telephone, main broadcasting equipment for television systems, radio and other emergency warning systems. ○ Public Utility Plant Facilities – Includes equipment for treatment, generation, storage, pumping and distribution (hubs for water, wastewater, power and gas). ○ Essential Government Operations – Public records, courts, jails, building permitting and inspection services, government administration and management, maintenance and equipment centers, and public health.
○ Transportation Lifeline Systems – Airports, helipads, and critical highways, roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure (Note: Critical highways, roads, etc. will be determined during any hazard-specific evacuation planning and are not identified in this plan).
• At Risk Population Facilities include, without limitation, pre-schools, public and private primary and secondary schools, before and after school care centers with 12 or more students, daycare centers with 12 or more children, group homes, and assisted living residential or congregate care facilities with 12 or more residents, churches that have capacity of 12 or more people. Some At Risk Population Facilities may become Essential Service Facilities if they are used for essential services, such as an evacuation center or weather shelter.
• Hazardous Materials Facilities include, without limitation, any facility that could, if adversely impacted, release of hazardous material(s) in sufficient amounts during a hazard event that would create harm to people, the environment and property.
Figure 21 and Appendix D identify the critical facilities within Nevada City based on this definition.
Appendix D identifies the facilities and whether they fall within any mapped hazards areas, such as dam failure Inundation, flood zones, or fire hazard severity zone. These show 30 Essential Services Facilities, ranging from bridges to fire stations, many which are vulnerable to specific potential hazards, such as flooding or wildfire. 17 At Risk Population Facilities that have population clusters that also are currently or could provide public services to the public during an emergency event, ranging from schools to larger churches. There are also 2 Hazardous Materials Facilities. All of these facilities are potentially vulnerable to various types of hazards, such as dam failure inundation (see Figure 22), flooding (see Figure 23), landslide (see Figure 24), or wildfire exposure (see Figure 25). Also, as with most areas of the City, there is a potential risk to exposure from transport of hazardous material.
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The City has the CAL FIRE Station and City Fire Station located to the south and the U.S. Forestry Fire Station located to the north providing excellent fire safety coverage for the entire City.
However, there are some access limitations in certain sections of the City, due to the historic development of the town in the 1800s. The City has had very limited growth over the last 30 years. Due to this limited growth and the understanding that the City has excellent emergency response services, the City has not developed a clear projection of future emergency service needs.
A number of goals and policies have been established in the CAPSE to address maintaining and improving critical public safety facilities to enhance safety services. Policy SF-2, for example, includes reviewing new development and land use entitlements for increased access and surveillance for protection. Policy SF-3 supports efforts to retrofit existing facilities, such as to improve them to comply with fire safety regulations. Policy SF-4 provides for locating public safety facilities in the lowest hazard risk areas as may be feasible.
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Figure 21. Critical Facilities Inventory
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Figure 22. Critical Facilities and Dam Inundation Areas
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Figure 23. Critical Facilities and FEMA DFIRM Flood Zones
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Figure 24. Critical Facilities and Landslide Incidence and Susceptibility Areas
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Figure 25. Critical Facilities and Fire Hazard Severity Zones
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Climate Change and Critical Facilities
The City can expect to experience a greater number of disasters, particularly wildfire and flooding, because of climate change, which makes it more urgent to consider measures to mitigate these hazards to critical facilities. More detailed information on this is found in the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Section-A and the 2017 Nevada County LHMP Annex B (included in Appendix B of this Element).
G. Hazardous Materials (HM) (including Mining Hazards)
Hazardous materials include any material that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety or to the environment if released into the environment. Hazardous materials include a wide variety of substances commonly used in households and businesses. Industrial chemicals, motor oil, gasoline, paint, solvents, lawn care and gardening products, household cleaners, and refrigerants are among the diverse range of substances classified as hazardous materials.
Use, storage and transportation of hazardous materials and wastes is heavily regulated by federal, state, and local agencies, including the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, which is authorized to implement the regulations of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. The Nevada County Environmental Health Department monitors commercial storage, use, and generation of hazardous materials, substances, and waste.
Stationary Sources of Hazardous Materials
Nearly all businesses and residences store and generate some amount of hazardous materials and waste. Certain businesses and industries, including gas stations, automotive service and repair shops, and dry cleaners, generate larger amounts of these substances. In 2022, there were approximately 32 active businesses in the City using hazardous materials in sufficient quantities to require filing a report with the Nevada County, as required by the California Health and Safety Code. Large quantity generators produce over 2,200 lbs. of hazardous waste per month. Small quantity generators produce less than 2,200 lbs. per month, and exempt generators produce less than 220 lbs. per month.
Robinsons Enterprises, a petroleum bulk storage and transportation plant, located at the south end of the City on Lower Colfax Road, is considered a large quantity generator. The City’s wastewater treatment plant, located at the west end of the City off Jordan Street, is the only other large generator within the City. The wastewater treatment plant is a concern to the City based on its use of chlorine gas to process potable water. This Element is proposing a program to convert the City’s wastewater treatment plant from using chlorine gas to using liquid chlorine or other measures to avoid the potential of a hazardous gas release. All other listed businesses in the City are either small quantity or exempt generators.
To assure safe handling of hazardous materials, all permits issued by Nevada County include a required annual inspection of the City Fire Department. To support this annual inspection and
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to enhance the City’s efforts to monitor fire safe requirements, the City is currently contemplating hiring a part time fire code inspector to assist in inspecting hazardous materials operations in addition to other fire safe inspections, such as building occupancy, and fire safe building and land management.
In addition to stationary sources that use, store and generate hazardous materials and waste, the City can also be affected by sites that have been contaminated by a release of these materials.
Several state agencies monitor hazardous materials/waste facilities where releases have occurred. Potential and known contamination sites are monitored and documented by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). A review of the DTSC EnviroStor database indicates two active voluntary cleanup sites in Nevada City: 1) at the end of Bridge Street, involving soil clean up; and 2) at 101 Providence Mine Road, where the Grove residential subdivision project is being developed also involving soil remediation. EnviroStor also identified 7 other cleanup sites with closed cases. GEO Tracker, another source from the RWQCB indicates that there are 13 sites in the City that have undergone removal of underground fuel storage tanks and are certified as clean sites.
Transported Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials are transported through Nevada City on two major transportation routes:
Highway 49 and Highway 20. The 2017 Nevada County LHMP indicates that most of the City is at risk of exposure to a major hazardous materials spill since most of the City is located within 2 miles from these routes.
Hazard Material Spills/Releases from Transport
There have been no recorded major hazardous material spills or releases in Nevada City in the last 30 years (though there have been minor events) and there have been no federal or state disaster declarations for hazardous materials in the City.
Past Mining Activities
A substantial portion of the Nevada City area is underlain by a deep, extensive labyrinth of abandoned mine-tunnels. Dozens of mining claims were worked in the Nevada City area during the heyday of gold mining. Some were large, mechanized operations. Most were small and more labor-intensive. These mines are now abandoned. The California Department of Conservation GIS data identified two mines, Champion and Gracie, and two unnamed mines located in Nevada City and more located within the City’s General Plan Area (see Figure 26). Other potential mining hazards beyond subsidence, such as hazardous materials used in mining activities and the need for remediation, may also be a concern for addressing public safety concerns, and particularly, addressing future development within areas that have experienced previous mining activities.
Through a number of public outreach meetings on the CAPSE, many community members expressed concerns from hazards associated with previous mining activities, including contamination related issues. Sierra Fund, a non-profit agency in Nevada County, supports
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efforts by the City in investigating, identifying, and helping mitigate impacts to the community from mining. The City may wish to pursue developing a more focused plan and possible programs to address mining hazards beyond geologic concerns beyond this Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Update. For example, the City could prepare a mineral management element that not only considers other potential hazards from mining activities than subsidence, such as remediation of contaminated areas and reactivation of mining in the City.
Climate Change and Hazardous Materials
Climate change is not expected to exacerbate stationary hazardous materials facilities or hazardous materials transport in Nevada City.
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Figure 26. Mine Inventory
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H. Severe Weather (SW)
Severe weather is generally defined as any destructive weather event and usually occurs in Nevada City as localized storms, primarily in the form of heavy rains and high winds that bring power outages, impact roadways, and isolate of vulnerable regions (single access road closures). Rain, lightning, and high winds are likely to continue as one of the natural threats to the City and Nevada County. Extreme heat is also identified as a form of severe weather to be addressed. Temperature extremes are likely to continue to occur annually.
Storms
Storms in Nevada City are generally characterized by heavy rain and strong winds. Although exceedingly heavy snow falls on the nearby mountains, it very rarely falls in the City. However, extreme cold and freezing conditions, often from storms, pose a significant threat to public safety, and particularly more vulnerable populations. Heavy storms can cause both widespread flooding as well as extensive localized drainage issues. Lack of adequate drainage systems has become an increasingly important issue. In addition to the flooding that often occurs during these storms, strong winds when combined with saturated soil conditions can down large trees, and cause landslides and other slope failures. Flooding and geologic hazards were previously covered in Sections D and E of this Plan. Some storms are accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Lightning is a concern when it is cloud-to-ground type that can kill or injure people and destroy structures. Lightning is a particular concern during fire season due to the number of fires that are started by lightning.
High winds often accompany severe storms and thunderstorms and can cause significant property damage, threaten public safety, and have adverse economic impacts from business closures and power loss. Nevada County, including the City, is subject to significant, non-tornadic, winds. High winds are defined as sustained wind speeds of 40 mph or greater lasting for one hour or longer, or winds of 58 mph or greater for any duration. Winds also exacerbate fire conditions by drying out the ground cover, propelling embers at great distances ahead of the fire and increasing the ferocity of an existing fire.
Temperature Extremes
Winter snowstorms occur primarily in the higher elevations of Nevada County but can also affect the City to a certain degree. Winter snowstorms, including strong winds and blizzard conditions can result in localized power and phone outages and closures of streets, highways, schools, businesses, and nonessential government operations. During periods of heavy snow there is also an increase in the number and severity of traffic accidents. Heavy snowfall during winter in higher elevations can lead to flooding or landslides during the spring in lower elevations if the area snowpack melts too quickly. This can also create numerous challenges for emergency responders.
Extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm or is left in its wake. Prolonged exposure to cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and can be life-threatening. Infants and the elderly are most
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susceptible. Pipes may freeze and burst in homes or buildings that are poorly insulated or without heat. Also, as referenced in the Climate Vulnerability Assessment Appendix A to this Element), extreme heat events are days that exceed a maximum temperature of 96.2°F degrees.
While there have been no FEMA or Cal OES declared heat disasters to date, there have been nine extreme heat events according to the National Climate Data Center in Nevada City. These occurred during the years 1999, 2000 (five occurrences), and 2013 (three occurrences). Due to climate change, it is expected that the City will continue to experience a greater number and increased intensity of these events.
A majority of homes in Nevada City are older homes and were constructed over 39 years ago.
Furthermore, over 30 percent of the City’s housing stock (over 1,400 units) was built before 1939.
If these homes were not retrofitted with insulation and improved with heating and cooling equipment then folks that live in them, especially vulnerable populations, are at higher risk for both cold and heat-related illnesses during these weather events.
Very high and low temperatures can harm plants and animals that are not well adapted to them, including natural ecosystems. Outdoor workers in construction or landscaping are also much more exposed to the elements than most people, so they are more susceptible to extreme cold and heat conditions and the potential illnesses. Indirectly, extreme cold and heat puts more stress on power lines, causing them to run less efficiently. These events also cause more demand for electricity (usually to run heating and air conditioning units), and in combination with the stress on the power lines, may lead to brownouts and blackouts.
The City currently collaborates with Nevada County, through Better Together Nevada County, Nevada County Health and Human Services Department, and Sierra Roots. Sierra Roots is a nonprofit agency that serves homeless, located in Nevada City, providing temporary shelter programsto address vulnerable populations during extreme weather events. The City works with Nevada County, Sierra Roots, and others to coordinate this service. This Element includes some policies and programs to support these programs. As referenced in Appendix D, List of Critical Facilities, there are a number of evacuation centers and weather shelters identified. Figure 21 shows these facilities and also references several possible weather shelters at various churches in the City that could be used for sheltering, not only for extreme cold weather events, but also used for extreme heat and bad weather events. The list and map also identify a number of schools in the City that could be used for evacuation centers in the event of a weather disaster, such as a flood, smoke, or wildfire, to name a few.
Drought
Drought is defined as a deficit of water supply in a region due to below-average precipitation over a seasonal period. Over several years this can cause a serious hydrological imbalance that results in biological losses and can further lead to economic losses. When drought conditions set in, water supply decreases, and water conservation becomes necessary. Since the end of July 2021, 41.64 percent of the land area within Nevada County, including the City, has been designated as being in extreme drought. Drought conditions cause other safety problems such
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as increased likelihood of pine beetle infestation, high forest mortality, increased wildlife mortality, water shortages, and mandatory water conservations measures, among others.
In June of 2021 the Nevada City Council passed Resolution No. 2021-25 declaring a Stage 3 drought (Water Shortage Warning), triggering the corresponding mandatory conservation measures outlined in the City’s 2015 Drought Action Plan. The resolution was triggered by a review of City water conditions, which included a finding that the City’s reservoir reached 4 feet below spill level 3 months sooner than the historical norm. The City also began ordering supplemental water from NID months earlier than is typically done. Conservation measures mandated by the City include 15 percent reductions in year-over-year water usage by all customers and restrictions on certain types of water usage such as outdoor watering.
Climate Change and Severe Weather
Climate change is expected to cause an increase in intense rainfall, which is usually associated with strong storm systems. This means that the City could see more intense storms in the coming years and decades. While average annual rainfall may increase or decrease slightly, climate change is expected to cause an increase in the number of years that see intense levels of precipitation. Heavy rainfall and snowfall can increase the frequency and severity of other hazards, including flooding and landslides. Climate change is also expected to increase the total number of intense storms that affect the area, possibly causing an increase in the frequency of severe weather events and any associated hazards. More detailed information on this is found in the Climate Change and Resiliency and Adaptive Capacity Section A.
Tree Hazards
Severe weather can contribute to exposing the public to tree hazards. The City owns and manages approximately 400 acres of open space consisting of natural forested areas. These areas have a number of trees and vegetation that pose an impact to public health and safety, such as wildfire that can spread to habitable structures and/or the potential to obstruct storm flows through natural drainage courses. Also, the City is responsible to maintain trees along public streets or other public properties that can drop branches tree and/or branches onto people or property that can be hazardous. The City’s Engineering and Public Works Department maintains these areas. PG&E have conducted considerable work to remove or trim trees, and remove hazardous vegetation along powerlines. This work is expected to continue to reduce hazards. The 2017 Nevada County LHMP recommends that the City implement an annual tree and vegetation removal and tree trimming monitoring program to address wildfire hazards and reduce tree branch falls. The CAPSE includes policies/programs to address this.
Power Outages
Although power outages can be experienced during other hazards events and disasters, they are most closely associated with severe storms. There are four types of intentional disruptions:
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• Planned: Some disruptions are intentional and can be scheduled based maintenance or upgrading needs
• Unscheduled: Some intentional disruptions must be done "on the spot." in response to an emergency
• Demand-Side Management: Some customers (i.e., on the demand side) have entered into an agreement with their utility provider to curtail their demand for electricity during periods of peak system loads
• Load Shedding: When the power system is under extreme stress due to heavy demand and/or failure of critical components, it is sometimes necessary to intentionally interrupt the service to selected customers to prevent the entire system from collapsing, resulting in rolling blackouts
The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is tasked with managing the power distribution grid that supplies most of California, except in areas served by municipal utilities.
CAISO is thus the entity that coordinates statewide flow of electrical supply. CAISO uses a series of stage alerts to the media based on system conditions. The alerts are:
• Stage 1 – Reserve margin falls below 7.0%
• Stage 2 – Reserve margin falls below 5.0%
• Stage 3 – Reserve margin falls below 1.5%
Rotating blackouts become a possibility when Stage 3 is reached. Rotating outages and/or blackouts such as those experienced in 2000/2001 and 2006 can occur due to losses in transmission or generation and/or extremely severe temperatures that lead to heavy electric power consumption.
A new intentional disruption type of power shortage/failure event has recently occurred in California. In recent years, several wildfires have started as a result of downed power lines or electrical equipment. This was the case for the Camp Fire in 2018. As a result, California’s three largest energy companies (including PG&E), at the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), are coordinating to prepare all Californians for the threat of wildfires and power outages during times of extreme weather. To help protect customers and communities during extreme weather events, electric power may be shut off for public safety in an effort to prevent wildfire. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).
To prevent fires, the electrical services provider for the City and western Nevada County (PG&E) initiated PSPS events starting in 2019, to reduce fire risks associated with power lines. Depending on the fire risks, power outage events may occur in specific areas of the City or for all PG&E customers in the region. PSPS events can create additional risks to the residents and businesses, such as inadequate access to medical devices and services, food preservation and safety, proper storage of medication, uncontrolled temperatures and exposure to excessive heat or cold,
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inadequate ventilation, lack of water and proper sanitation, disrupted communications, inability to use electronic gates or garage doors, and closed businesses and services. Throughout a PSPS, emergency services in the City and throughout Nevada County remain functional with back-up power supplies, but many businesses and agencies may not be operational. A PSPS can, therefore, pose health and safety risks to all impacted businesses and residents with an elevated risk to more vulnerable communities with less resources available during and after power outages.
Since establishment of the PSPS, PG&E has expanded this program to include real-time monitoring of extreme weather and fire danger conditions, enhancing vegetation management around power lines and conducting accelerated safety inspections of electric infrastructure.
Other fire safety programs by PG&E include hardening of the electrical system to improve resistance to wildfire risks. This program involves wrapping power poles and power lines with fire resistant materials, widening overhead power line spacing, installing additional poles between existing poles, removing powerlines connected to trees, strategically removing of overhead electrical facilities, and undergrounding power lines. Much of this has been and will continue to be experienced within the City and throughout Nevada County.
I. Noise Exposure (NE)
Excess noise can threaten quality of life and human health by causing annoyance or disrupting sleep and everyday activities. Reducing the negative impact of unwanted and excessive noise is an important aspect of maintaining Nevada City’s quality of life and community character, including being located in a relatively peaceful mountain environment. This section evaluates noise in the community and provides approaches to address and mitigate excessive noise.
This section also complies with the requirements of noise elements in accordance with State General Plan laws. This section includes review as of the following noise components:
• Identification of noise problems in the community as established in guidelines provided by the Office of Noise Control in the State Department of Health Services. This includes analysis and quantification of noise in the community based on current and projected noise levels for all major sources of noise within the City. • Presentation of Noise contours s for major noise sources and stated in terms of the day/night average level (DNL) or other appropriate noise descriptors. The noise contours are the basis of noise monitoring or following generally accepted noise modeling techniques for the various sources identified above. These noise contours are used as a guide for establishing a pattern of land uses in the Land Use Element that minimizes the exposure of community residents to excessive noise. Section 5 of this Plan includes policies, implementation measures, and possible solutions that address existing and foreseeable noise problems.
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Ambient Noise
The ambient noise environment in Nevada City is defined by several noise sources. The most prevalent source of near continuous noise in the City is traffic on SR 20 and SR 49. Intermittent noise sources consist primarily of local traffic on City streets, commercial activities on Broad Street (seen on the image to the right), and typical neighborhood
noise sources. Activities at parks and schools also
affect the noise environment within Nevada City, but
to a much more localized extent. Noise sources
associated with construction and property
maintenance also contributed to the noise
environment, typically on an intermittent and fairly
temporary basis.
Existing and Projected Noise
As Nevada City grows, coupled with overall growth in the region, traffic volumes on local highways and city streets will increase, resulting in higher traffic noise environments. Similarly, growth in tourism-related activities, and increased commercial activities in the City will all contribute to higher ambient noise levels over time. As referenced in the Background Report by Bollard Acoustical Consultants for this Plan, existing and projected noise from traffic shows these projected changes to community noise levels. Table 2 identifies locations where noise measurements were taken and relates to Figure 27 which shows actual noise levels (contours).
These are important to show existing noise levels from vehicular sources along the highways.
Table 3 identifies projected noise levels in the City to 2045, based on projected traffic (shown on Figure 28).
Table 2. Existing Traffic Noise Levels and Distances from Major Roadways (2020) Segment Roadway Segment Description DNL at 100’
[dB]
Distance to DNL Contours [feet]
70 dB 65 dB 60 dB
1 Highway 20 Banner Ridge to Gold Flat Rd. 72 146 315 678 2 Highway 20 Gold Flat Road to Sacramento St. 72 131 283 609 3 Highway 20 Sacramento St to Broad St. 70 95 204 440
4 Highway 20 Broad St to Coyote St. 68 75 162 348
5 Highway 20 Coyote St. to Highway 49 East Jct. 68 73 158 341 6 Highway 20 East of Highway 49 East Jct. 64 42 91 196
7 Highway 49 West of North Highway 20 Jct. 65 48 103 221 Source: Federal Highway Administration Highway Traffic Noise Prediction Model (FHWA-RD-77-108) with traffic counts from Caltrans.
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Table 3. Future Noise Levels and Distances to Traffic Noise Contours from Major Roadways (projected to 2045)
Segment Roadway Segment Description DNL at 100’
[dB]
Distance to DNL Contours [feet]
70 dB 65 dB 60 dB
1 Highway 20 Banner Ridge to Gold Flat Rd. 75 232 500 1076 2 Highway 20 Gold Flat Road to Sacramento St. 75 208 449 967 3 Highway 20 Sacramento St to Broad St. 73 151 324 699
4 Highway 20 Broad St to Coyote St. 71 119 257 553
5 Highway 20 Coyote St. to Highway 49 East Jct. 71 116 251 541 6 Highway 20 East of Highway 49 East Jct. 67 67 144 311 7 Highway 49 West of North Highway 20 Jct. 68 76 163 351 Source: Federal Highway Administration Highway Traffic Noise Prediction Model (FHWA-RD-77-108) with traffic counts from Caltrans.
Figure 27. Existing Noise Contours
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Figure 28. Future Noise Contours (2045)
In addition to traffic noise, there are other obvious stationary noise sources identified in the Background Report. The noise survey conducted in 2022 also identified a site located within the Broad Street commercial with the highest ambient noise levels in the City. Other noise generators that were evaluated in the Background Report include:
• Noise generated from events held at Pioneer Park should require noise mitigation, as needed which can be included as performance standards as part of the City issuing special event permits.
• Although not located within the City, the Nevada County Sportsmen’s Club shooting range, located on Banner Mountain Trail, should be considered if new noise-sensitive uses are proposed in the vicinity of this facility.
These three locations are identified on Figure 29.
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Figure 29. High Noise Locations
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Residential development near these areas should be carefully reviewed and potentially include measures to reduce interior noise levels. The Background Report provides a table for noise thresholds to consider in reviewing new development and specific noise goals, policies, and programs to address noise impacts are addressed in Section 4 of this Element.
Climate Change and Noise Exposure
Climate change is not expected to exacerbate noise in Nevada City.
J. Other Considerations (OC)
Other Hazards
Airport Hazards
The closest airport, Nevada County Airport, is located approximately nine miles southeast of the City. Although air traffic occurs over the City, it is not impacted by the airport’s approaches/departures that is cause for significant hazard to the City.
Military Land Use
SB 1462 and SB 1468 require that the General Plan disclose any land use conflicts with military air space and/or training routes in the General Plan Land Use Element (may also be related to the Safety Element). Also, the law requires disclosure of any military operations or installations within 1,000 feet of the City. Potentially, land use conflicts to these resources could constrain housing production. Based on mapping analysis conducted by the California Office of Planning and Research there are no conflicts with military land or air uses in or around Nevada City.
Water Quality
The 2017 Nevada County LHMP Annex B references water quality impacts on Deer Creek from the City’s water intake facility at the Water Treatment Plant. During high flows, unregulated water is discharged into the creek which creates sedimentation. The intake facility needs to be improved to avoid sedimentation impacts on Deer Creek (refer to Appendix B of this Element).
Vulnerable Communities and Environmental Justice
Vulnerable Communities
The term “vulnerable population and community” includes disadvantaged communities based on geographic, socioeconomic, public health and environmental hazards criteria. It is further defined to include, but is not limited to:
• Areas disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative public health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation; or
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• Areas with concentrations of people that are of low-income, high unemployment, low levels of home ownership, high rent burden, sensitive populations, or low levels of educational attainment; or
• Populations that are vulnerable in their ability to prepare for, react to, or recover from emergency situations such as those with communication limitations or barriers (lack of phone and/or wi-fi access or language), and individuals, neighborhoods, or institutions, with limited or no mobility.
The purpose of the Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Update is to reduce loss of life, injuries, and damage to property resulting from natural and human caused public safety hazards including flooding, geologic and seismic hazards, fire hazards, severe weather and the additional consequences of climate change. This Element identifies areas where private and public decisions on land use, appropriate levels and locations of public services and the dissemination of educational materials for both preparedness and response are addressed. In addressing the different safety hazard potentials in the City, this Element contains a number of relevant policies and programs that address the needs of vulnerable populations and communities.
Environmental Justice
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. SB 1000, signed into law September 24, 2016, required an Environmental Justice Element or related goals, policies, and programs integrated in other elements of the General Plan, such as the Safety Element, to address the disproportionate treatment of City regulations on these groups. These groups are defined in the statute as disadvantaged communities located within the City’s planning areas.
Based on Cal EPA data, the City does not have any known disadvantaged communities as defined under SB 1000. However, the City has many residents that meet this standard, so this Element contains a number of relevant policies that address the intent of this law.
Section 5 GOALS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS
The following goals, policies, and programs are grouped by referenced hazard categories:
1. Climate Change, Resiliency and Adaptive Capacity (CC)
2. Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation (EP)
3. Fire Hazards and Protection (FP)
4. Flood Hazards (FH)
5. Geologic Hazards/Seismic Activity (GH)
6. Hazardous Materials and Mining Hazards (HM)
7. Public Safety Services and Facilities (SF)
8. Severe Weather (SW)
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9. Noise Exposure (NE)
10. Other Safety Considerations (OC)
5.1 Climate Change, Resiliency and Adaptive Capacity (CC) GOALS
GOAL CC-1: GOAL CC-1 Protect the City’s populations, especially its most vulnerable, from the impacts of climate change.
GOAL CC-2: Restore and protect climate-vulnerable natural resources, ecosystems, and open spaces.
GOAL CC-3: Increase the reliability and redundancy of local and regional infrastructure and services.
GOAL CC-4: Support local business continuity and economic resilience from the impacts of climate change.
POLICIES
POLICY CC-1: Coordinate with Nevada County and neighboring jurisdictions to prioritize climate adaptation efforts that address regional climate change vulnerabilities of community members, infrastructure and services, natural resources and ecosystems, and critical facilities and buildings.
POLICY CC-2: Integrate and regularly update best available climate science, projections, and potential impacts into relevant City plans, codes, and planning documents including the Municipal Code, Disaster Plan, and Capital Improvement Program.
POLICY CC–3: Include climate projections in design criteria to ensure new critical facilities and infrastructure are built to function effectively in the face of future climate hazards and weather extremes.
POLICY CC-4: Review and revise the Nevada City Building Code as necessary to include weatherization standards that account for climate hazards such as extreme heat and extreme precipitation events.
POLICY CC-5: Prioritize programs and investments aimed at addressing climate change impacts and supporting community resilience for vulnerable populations, such as seniors, children, individuals with existing health conditions, individuals who live or work outdoors, and lowerincome residents.
POLICY CC-6: Coordinate with neighboring communities to develop an extreme heat response plan that designates cooling centers and establishes a temperature threshold triggering citywide notification and coordination for opening designated cooling centers to the public.
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POLICY CC-7: Expand the implementation of drought-tolerant green infrastructure, including landscaping and street trees, in public and private spaces to address the impacts of extended drought, extreme precipitation, and extreme heat.
POLICY CC-8: Promote the use of drought‐tolerant green infrastructure, including landscaped areas, as part of cooling strategies in public and private spaces.
POLICY CC-9: Partner with Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, Nevada County Economic Resource Council, and Sierra Business Council to pilot and implement actions by local business to prepare for and reduce the risk of climate hazards, including wildfire, drought, flood, and extreme precipitation.
POLICY CC-10: Support efforts by the Nevada County Public Health Department and local community organization to establish extreme heat and air quality monitoring systems and develop accessible and language appropriate community education resources to prepare community members for increase extreme heat events and air pollution.
POLICY CC-11: Prepare for a reduced long-term water supply resulting from more frequent and severe drought events, including working with regional water providers to implement extensive water conservation measures and ensure sustainable water supplies, including for fire suppression needs.
POLICY CC-12: Renovate existing City-owned assets and design future facilities to incorporate renewable energy generation systems, battery storage systems, and energy-efficient design and features, as feasible.
POLICY CC-13: Encourage new developments and existing property owners to incorporate sustainable, energy-efficient, and environmentally regenerative features into their facilities, landscapes, and structures to reduce energy demands and improve on-site resilience. Support financing efforts to increase community access to these features.
POLICY CC-14: Increase the resiliency of City-owned structures to severe weather events and support homeowners and business owners to increase the resilience of their buildings and properties through retrofits, weatherization, and other improvements.
Other policies and programs addressing climate adaptation, adaptive capacity, and resiliency are woven throughout the remaining sections of this element, as they relate to safety concerns, such as wildfire, flooding, emergency preparedness, evacuation, public safety services and facilities, and geologic hazards.
5.2 Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation (EP)
GOAL
GOAL EP-1: Provide a coordinated approach to hazard and disaster response preparedness.
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POLICIES
POLICY EP-1: Ensure a coordinated interagency program for disaster preparedness that will facilitate Federal and State disaster assistance by planning for the reduction of the effects of natural hazards and training for disaster management.
POLICY EP-2: Provide for adequate evacuation routes in areas of high fire hazard, flooding, and other natural disasters.
POLICY EP-3: Identify existing public and private roadways in fire hazard severity zones and the wildland-urban interface (WUI) that are not in compliance with current fire safety regulations, including road standards for evacuation and emergency vehicle access, vegetation clearance, and other requirements of the California Fire Safe Regulations (Title 14, CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with § 1270, SRA Fire Safe Regulations) and Title 14, CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 3, Article 3 (commencing with § 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations) to the extent resources are available.
Work at retrofitting City-owned roadways as needed to meet current standards and require private property owners to do the same, to the extent feasible and given the absence of other site constraints.
POLICY EP-4: Encourage, assist with, and coordinate efforts by the City’s Fire Safety Advisory Committee, and others, the update of disaster plans on a regular basis such as the Nevada County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan, Community Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Guides, the Nevada City Disaster Plan, the Nevada County Wildfire Evacuation Preparedness Action Plan, and other similar plans.
POLICY EP-5: Collaborate with NCCFD and Nevada County to develop adequate infrastructure and provide roadside fuel reduction, defensible space, and vegetation management, particularly along evacuation routes.
POLICY EP-6: Require proposed development and to the extent feasible, non-conforming development, to provide adequate access for fire and emergency vehicles and equipment, adequate infrastructure, proper vegetation clearance and maintenance on public and private roads that meets or exceeds the standards in the California Fire Safe Regulations (Title 14, CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with § 1270, SRA Fire Safe Regulations) and Title 14, CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 3, Article 3 (commencing with § 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations).
POLICY EP-7: Help support the development and maintenance of Countywide and local emergency evacuation plans that also address at risk populations.
POLICY EP-8: Collaborate with the Nevada Irrigation District in developing measures to assure sustainable water supplies that may include, but not be limited to, water conservation programs, increased water supply capacities in the City and NID, and coordination of drought mitigation.
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POLICY EP-9: Implement drought measures associated with the City’s Drought Action Plan and Nevada Irrigation drought programs.
PROGRAMS
PROGRAM EP-1: Coordinate with Nevada County and with other emergency response agencies to update the City’s Emergency Operations Plan every five years thereafter. Coordinate with agencies to implement measures, including response to fire, earthquake, blizzard, hazardous materials spills, and other disasters.
Agency/Departments: Nevada County Office of Emergency Services and City Fire and Police Departments.
Funding Source: Grant funding as it becomes available
Time Frame: As soon as grant funding becomes available, but no later than 2025 PROGRAM EP-2: Coordinate with Nevada County, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, CAL FIRE, USFS, Police Department, and other entities providing emergency response to conduct regular emergency response and fire suppression training.
Agency/Departments: Nevada County Office of Emergency Services with assistance from City Police and Nevada County Consolidated Fire District
Funding Source: General Fund and County funding
Time Frame: Ongoing
PROGRAM EP-3: In accordance with AB 747, and in collaboration with Nevada County, an evacuation route capacity analysis and evacuation plan shall be conducted. This plan shall include identifying existing roadways used as evacuation routes that are not compliant with current California Fire Safe Regulations. This plan shall also require development standards that meet or exceed the California Fire Safe Regulations, Title 14, CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with § 1270, SRA Fire Safe Regulations). This plan shall include provisions for bringing emergency ingress and egress requirements of CAL FIRE and City road and driveway standard into conformance and provide alternative methods of evacuation, such as transit, carpooling, and shelter in place. The City shall then adopt new requirements/regulations reflecting recommendations from this plan such as new development mitigation measures, such as restricting residential development within high or very high fire hazard severity zones.
Agency/Department: Nevada County Office of Emergency Services in collaboration with Nevada County Consolidated Fire and Protection District, City Engineering, Police and Planning Departments
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Funding Source: Grant funding or other funds available through collaboration with Nevada County Office of Emergency Services, and potentially cost sharing with General Fund Time Frame: 2023
PROGRAM EP-4: To the extent the City has financial resources, the City shall prepare an update to the General Plan Circulation Element to include an overall Circulation Map in accordance with State General Plan laws. This analysis shall incorporate evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios from the 2023 Update to the Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Agency/Department: City Planning and Engineering Departments Funding Source: Grant funding or other funds available
Time Frame: After the Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan has been adopted between 2023 and 2026
Also See Program FP-1, regarding new development providing adequate evacuation and emergency access in the next section; Fire Hazards and Protection.
5.3 Fire Hazards and Protection (FP)
GOALS
GOAL FP-1: Ensure safety for life and property in both wildlands and developed areas.
GOAL FP-2: Enhance fire safety and improve fire protection effectiveness through infrastructure and service improvements.
GOAL FP-3: Reduce fire risk to life and property through land use planning, ordinances, and compliance programs.
GOAL FP-4: Encourage fire safety education and support programs to promote participation, voluntary compliance, and community awareness of fire safety issues.
GOAL FP-5: Reduce fire severity and intensity through fuels management.
POLICIES
POLICY FP-1: Work with NCCFD, Nevada County, and other partner agencies to pursue state and federal grant funds and/or develop a sustainable funding source to provide financial incentives or assistance for business and residential defensible space, home hardening, and fuels reduction work.
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POLICY FP-2: Coordinate with utility companies to develop strategies to avoid the ignition of fires from utility equipment and ensure companies are complying with regulations to minimize risk of wildfires.
POLICY FP-3: Continue to participate in the California Master Mutual Aid Agreement program and conduct emergency hazard drills with key stakeholder organizations, community groups and organizations, outside agencies, and local and County officials across the community to improve preparedness for known threats and hazard.
POLICY FP-4: Work with fire insurance providers to create incentives for property owners who have fire-proofed or flood-proofed their homes and/or businesses to ensure they have fire insurance.
POLICY FP-5: Continue making available educational materials and website postings regarding environmental regulations, guidelines, and protection measures that property owners should be aware of and are responsible for when planning and undertaking fuels management activities and home fire protection and hardening improvements. These educational materials and website postings shall be available to members of the public on the City’s website and at the public counter at City Hall.
POLICY FP-6: To provide a better understanding of the benefits of reducing vulnerabilities to wildfire risks through site design, defensible space and building material/design options available with ignition-resistant building materials, continue to outreach and cooperate and support efforts to expand public education programs. To the extent the City has resources available, it shall support public education sponsored by Firewise USA, CAL FIRE, Fire Safe Council, the US Forest Service, the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services, and others.
POLICY FP-7: Maintain a web page on the City website that includes a list of agencies and contacts for emergency situations, information about emergency preparedness, links to the CodeRed system, and links to useful resources. This outreach effort must include programs to reach at risk populations.
POLICY FP-8: Improve local and regional coordination and identify specific means of communication to reach all citizens in case of urban fire or wildfire and continue to engage with Firewise USA, Fire Safe Councils, and other networking organizations.
POLICY FP-9: Encourage fuel modification on public and private forestland, such as the use of prescribed burning and creation and long term maintenance of community fire breaks, fuel breaks in strategic areas located in and around the City such as the Deer Creek Watershed, POLICY FP-10: Continue to help support affordable publicly accessible fuel reduction programs such as the City Slivers and Residential Chipping programs.
POLICY FP-11: Ensure and maintain the long-term sustainability of water supplies to meet current and anticipated future firefighting needs.
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POLICY FP-12: Collaborate with CAL FIRE, the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, local community organizations, and others to regularly study and develop strategies, including through Community Wildfire Protection Plans that address the change in wildfire risk associated with climate change.
POLICY FP-13: Apply and enforce the California Fire Safe Regulations (Title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 2, articles 1-5 (commencing with section 1270) (SRA Fire Safe Regulations) and title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3 (commencing with section 1299.01) (Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures) through City and Countyadopted ordinances. These regulations include, but are not limited to, requiring and maintaining defensible space that are applicable to State responsibility area lands and lands classified and designated as very high fire hazard severity zones. Defensible space regulations and requirements shall be applied as reflected on current and future maps defined in the California Government Code § 51177(i).
POLICY FP-14: Continue to adopt revisions to the California Fire and Building Codes and other standards, which address fire safety, as they are updated by the State. Review, revise, and/or adopt existing or new local codes, ordinances, and Fire Safe Standards to reflect contemporary fire safe practices and to comply with the California Fire Safe Regulations (Title 14, CCR, division
1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 2, articles 1-5 (commencing with section 1270) (SRA Fire Safe Regulations) and title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3 (commencing with section 1299.01) (Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures).
POLICY FP-15: Develop and update programs as needed that ensure recovery and redevelopment after a large fire and that reduce future vulnerabilities to fire hazard risks through site preparation, redevelopment layout design, fire-resistant landscape planning, and home hardening building design and materials.
POLICY FP-16: Continue to coordinate with PG&E to underground power lines throughout the community, especially in the wildland-urban interface and fire hazard severity zone areas where wildfire risk is greatest.
POLICY FP-17: Support and participate with partner agencies, such as Nevada County, the Nevada County Consolidated Protection District, CAL FIRE, Nevada County Fire Safe Council and the City of Grass Valley to develop a local program to identify, prioritize, and fund fuel modification projects, such as community fire breaks and long term maintenance to protect new and existing developments in the Local Responsibility Area, and leverage the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) and Program EIR for eligible projects in the State Responsibility Area.
POLICY FP-18: Use public and private funding, where available, to the greatest extent practical to assist private landowners in implementing defensible space and building retrofits to achieve a low-risk condition.
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POLICY FP-19: Continue to require review by the Planning Department and the Fire Department, including NCFD prior to the issuance of development permits for proposed construction projects and conceptual landscaping plans in Very Fire Hazard Severity Zones identified by CAL FIRE and Wildland-Urban Interface Zones.
POLICY FP-20: Coordinate with the Nevada Irrigation District, where applicable, to maintain an adequate, long-term water supply for fire suppression needs for the community.
POLICY FP-21: Support measures that help firefighting crews and emergency response teams respond to fire hazards or work under low-visibility conditions, such as high-visibility signage for streets and building addresses that meet or exceed the standards in the California Fire Safe Regulations (§§ 1273 and 1274 of the California Code of Regulations – Title 24, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Articles 2 and 3).
POLICY FP-22: Continue to uphold fire-resistant landscaping and defensible space and home hardening requirements for new residential and commercial development. All development must comply with Nevada City and California Fire Safe Regulations (Title 14, CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5 (commencing with §1270, SRA Fire Safe Regulations) and Title 14, CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 3, Article 3 (commencing with § 1299.01, Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures) and the California Water Efficient Landscaping regulations (California Government 511775591, et seq.).
POLICY FP-23: To improve fire flow in some of the older sections of the City, prioritize water main replacement with a goal of replacing over 4 miles of aging water lines in the City.
POLICY FP-24: To reduce the potential wildfire spread from City owned forested areas, the City shall remove trees that are dead or are dying from invasion of bark beetle and drought conditions and trees and vegetation in these areas that are determined by the City to be hazardous.
POLICY FP-25: Support and coordinate with Nevada County, Nevada County Fire District, and the Nevada County Local Agency Formation Commission, review of development proposals and/or annexations to the City to ensure that land use and development are located where fire and emergency services have sufficient capacity to meet project needs or require that they be upgraded to provide necessary capacity as part of the proposed development activities. This review will also include assuring land uses are appropriate in relation to fire severity interface.
POLICY FP-26: New development and major remodel development projects may be required to prepare a project-specific fire hazard and risk assessment and incorporate project-specific risk reduction measures, subject to the determination and approval of the local agency.
POLICY FP-27: Support City efforts to enhance fire safety services such as staff support for fire safety and hazardous materials inspections.
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PROGRAMS
PROGRAM FP-1: In accordance with the California Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations (Title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3 (commencing with section 1299.01) and to address fire safety risks, update the approach to reviewing new development and land use entitlements and to the extent feasible, retrofit development, and include the amendments/updates to regulations/requirements and require a Fire Protection Plan when applicable. This Program shall also ensure that new development be located where fire and emergency services have sufficient capacity to meet project needs or require that they be upgraded to provide necessary capacity as part of the proposed development activities to ensure new development has adequate fire protection and shall include the following provisions:
Updated Regulations for New Development and Land Use Entitlements:
1. Provision of public and private standards for road and driveway design, to ensure the ability of emergency service providers to respond to structural and wildland fires and calls for medical and law enforcement emergency assistance. Designs shall provide for secondary road access necessary for fire safety or emergency access;
2. Ensure that each property outside of a developed water system shall maintain water storage to provide wildfire and structure protection on the property;
3. Ensure that sign and address standards for new development as well as retrofit, which will provide for easy identification of roads, streets, driveways and buildings by emergency service providers; and
4. Create measures/standards for defensible space to reduce hazards associated with the structural and wildland intermix, including:
a. Fuel modification and vegetation management procedures adjacent to structures and fuel breaks where appropriate;
b. Vegetation management adjacent to roads and driveways to provide safe travel for residents, and firefighting, medical and police personnel; and c. Building setbacks.
5. Update building to meet or exceed building hardening requirements in Chapter 7A of the California Building Code or other applicable codes, based on local studies or conditions identified in the local fire hazard and risk assessment.
6. Create a planning process for review of new subdivisions, such as tentative maps and parcel maps, that requires that specific findings be made by the City for these types of land use entitlements that are located within a State Responsible Area or a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
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7. Create a planning process to determine what new and significant remodel project are subject to preparing fire protection plans that incorporate project-specific risk reduction measures, subject to the determination and approval of the local agency.
8. Revise Zoning Code to Prohibit land uses that could exacerbate the risk of ignitions, such as outdoor storage of hazardous or highly flammable materials, outdoor welding, or temporary fireworks sales.
9. Revise Zoning Code and/or process for simplifying the tree removal process to help reduce fuels on properties.
Fire Protection Plan Requirements:
1. Risk Analysis
2. Identification of Areas Lacking Service
3. Fire Response Capabilities
4. Fire Safety Requirements – Defensible Space, Infrastructure, and Building Ignition Resistance
5. Mitigation Measures and Design Considerations for Non-Conforming Fuel Modification
6. Wildfire Education Maintenance and Limitations
7. Evacuation Plan
Agency/Department: Nevada County Consolidated Fire District in collaboration with CAL FIRE, the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services, City Engineering, Fire, and Planning Departments.
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: 2024
PROGRAM FP-2: Update landscaping standards, such as Chapter 17-80, Zoning Code Performance Standard, to incorporate fire-resistant planting material prohibiting flammable landscaping plantings or materials storage in the structure ignition zone (e.g., within 0–5 feet of the structure). Include in this amendment landscaping standards to address vegetation maturity in the required number of initial plantings and vegetation location/spacing requirements to address long-term defensible space and wildfire protection for the life of the landscaping.
Agency/Department: City Planning and Fire Departments in collaboration with Nevada County Fire District
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Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: 2024
PROGRAM FP-3: Support efforts by partner agencies, such as Nevada County and the City of Grass Valley in developing a comprehensive WUI risk reduction program and associated funding/financing for existing development to improve defensible space, increase home and structural hardening, and increase vegetation and fuels management in wildland areas adjacent to existing development.
PROGRAM FP-4: To the extent the City has financial resources, replace 4,000 linear feet (or 0.75 linear miles annually) of water main, including hydrants and water service connections for domestic and fire sprinkler use.
Agency/Department: City Engineering and Public Works Department Funding Source: Grants, City Water Fund, and General Fund Time Frame: Annually
PROGRAM FP-5: To the extent the City has resources, expand the City’s tree maintenance program to reduce the potential wildfire spread from City owned forested areas to include regular monitoring of trees and removing trees that are dead or are dying from invasion of bark beetle and drought conditions and trees and vegetation in these areas that are determined by the City to be hazardous Engineer/or Arborist.
Agency/Department: City Engineering and Public Works Department Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: On-going
5.4 Flood Hazards (FH)
GOAL
GOAL FH-1: Protect life and property by minimizing exposure to flood hazards.
POLICIES
POLICY FH-1: Coordinate with local, regional, state, and federal agencies with responsibility for flood management to minimize flood hazards and improve safety.
POLICY FH-2: Continue working with appropriate local, state, and federal agencies (particularly the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]) to maintain the most current flood hazard and floodplain information based on historical flood behavior and future climate change
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 102
projections. Use that information as a basis for project review and to guide development in accordance with federal, state, and local standards.
POLICY FH-3: To ensure new construction or substantive improvements will not result in increased peak run-off or flood potential, coordinate new development review with responsible state and federal agencies and require flood/drainage mitigation such as:
1. Avoidance of stream channel modifications;
2. Avoidance of excessive areas of impervious surfaces;
3. Use of on-site retention or detention of storm water;
4. Require building/structural setbacks from drainageways per State and Federal Agency requirements;
5. Require that new development or substantial improvements of existing structures within the 100-year floodplain meet federal and state standards;
6. Incorporate stormwater drainage systems that effectively control the rate and amount of runoff, so as to prevent increases in downstream flooding potential.
POLICY FH-4: Require stormwater management plans to be climate-informed to respond to large storm and rain-on-snow events and to promote on-site water retention. Promote nature-based methods and best management practices (e.g., bioswales, natural ground cover) to increase permeable surfaces to reduce runoff.
POLICY FH-5: Require that new critical facilities (e.g., hospitals, emergency command centers, communication facilities, fire stations, police stations) are located outside of 100-year floodplains. Where such location is not feasible, design these facilities to mitigate potential flood risk to ensure functional operation during a flood event.
POLICY FH-6: Encourage treatment of wildfire-burned areas to control stormwater runoff prior to winter rains, particularly in areas prone to landslides. Promote planting and rapid regrowth of fire-resistant vegetation cover using best practices as soon as possible to prevent erosion, protect bare soils, and aid in control of stormwater runoff.
POLICY FH-7: Continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to ensure qualification for flood insurance and disaster assistance.
POLICY FH-8: The City shall ensure that all new development adheres to all provisions in Chapter
13.20 “Floodplain Management” of the Municipal Code, consider climate models, and update the provisions accordingly to remain consistent with any future federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
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POLICY FH-9: The City shall continue monitoring the progress of safety programs conducted by the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) for safety of the Scotts Flat Lake and Deer Creek Diversion dams to reduce the risk of dam failures. The City shall encourage the NID to diligently complete the spillway safety improvement project for the Scotts Flat Lake Dam and to make safety repairs as soon as possible.
POLICY FH-10: The City shall collaborate with other key stakeholders, such as Nevada County, Nevada Irrigation District, and Sierra Fund, to identify key impact areas on Deer Creek and Little Deer Creek that are most exposed to post-wildfire debris flows.
PROGRAMS
PROGRAM FH-1: To avoid localized flooding at strategic locations, to the extent the City has resources, the City shall collaborate with FEMA, CalTrans, other State and local agencies to make improvements to the drainage system at:
1. The convergence of Deer and Little Dear Creeks;
2. Oregon Ravine through downtown and along Commercial Street;
3. Pioneer Park at Little Deer Creek; and
4. Sacramento Street and Broad Street parking lot (see Appendix B, Annex-B of the Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for specific improvements for each location).
Agency/Department: Engineering Department
Funding Source: Grants
Time Frame: 2025-28
PROGRAM FH-2: The City shall amend Chapter 13.20 of the Municipal Code, Floodplain Management, to require new critical facilities (e.g., hospitals, emergency command centers, communication facilities, fire stations, police stations) to be located outside of 100-year floodplains unless it is not feasible to do so. The amended regulations may only allow these types of critical facilities to be located in a 100-year floodplain if the design mitigates potential flood to ensure functional operation during a flood event.
Agency/Department: Engineering Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: 2024
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PROGRAM FH-3: The City shall update Chapter 13.20 of the Municipal Code, Floodplain Management, as needed to consider climate models, and update the provisions accordingly to remain consistent with any future federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
Agency/Department: Engineering Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Ongoing
PROGRAM FH-4: The City will work with other stakeholders, such as Nevada County, Nevada Irrigation District, and Sierra Fund, to identify key impact areas on Dear Creek and Little Deer Creek that are most exposed to post-wildfire debris flows and continue monitoring culverts for degradation and deficiencies and evaluate needs to improve capacity of the drainage system.
This may include review of the implications this scenario would have on stormwater runoff during larger storm events. This review could result in a set of recommended set of pre-disaster mitigation measures to be implemented to help mitigate impacts from post-wildfire debris flow events. Mitigation measures could include:
1. Rapid reforestation and stabilization of wildfire-affected areas susceptible to debris flow runoff to stabilize soils;
2. Communication and coordination with residents and businesses located within potential impact areas from post-wildfire debris flow events; and
3. Development of analysis techniques to predict debris flow events based on rainfall and moisture conditions.
Agency/Department: Fire and Engineering Departments
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: 2026
5.5 Geologic Hazards/Seismic Activity (GH)
GOAL
GOAL GH-1: Ensure a high level of safety and minimize the loss of life injury, and property damage from earthquake, landslide, severe erosion, and other geotechnical hazards.
POLICIES
POLICY GH-1: In accordance with California Government Code § 65302(g)(4)(B), ensure that new development incorporates design and engineering that minimizes the risk of damage from
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 105
seismically induced surface rupture, ground shaking, ground failure, seiche, slope instability leading to mudslides and landslides, subsidence, and other seismic hazards.
POLICY GH-2: Require geologic hazard investigations/reports prepared by qualified geotechnical and soils engineers to review new development that may be located within areas that are known (areas determined to be seismically active by the State Department of Conservation or potentially have geologic concerns, such as steep slopes and/or areas of unstable soil. Such investigations shall include recommended mitigation of significant geologic hazards if identified. The City shall require mitigation as may be recommended in these reports.
POLICY GH-3: Encourage upgrading of unreinforced masonry buildings to prevent disastrous earthquake damage. Also encourage retrofitting of structures, particularly older buildings, to withstand landslides.
POLICY GH-4: Ensure that new construction meets current structural and safety standards.
POLICY GH-5: Consult with agencies as needed, such as the California Department of Conservation and Sierra Fund to evaluate the potential subsidence impacts from mining on new development depending on location in proximity to known mines.
PROGRAMS
PROGRAM GH-1: Investigate the need and resource availability for preparing a Mineral Management Element of the General Plan and a Mining and Reclamation Ordinance to address hazardous mining issues and new mining projects. This shall include applying a new approach to reviewing new development and land use entitlements and include the amendments/updates to regulations/requirements as follows:
1. Provision of public and private standards for road and driveway design which will ensure and enhance the ability of emergency service providers to respond to structural and wildland fires and call for medical and law enforcement emergency assistance. The standards shall provide for secondary road access to new projects where necessary for fire safety or emergency access;
2. Ensuring that each property outside of a developed water system shall maintain sufficient usable water storage to provide wildfire and structure protection on the property;
3. Ensuring that sign and address standards, which will provide for easy identification of roads, streets, driveways and buildings by emergency service providers; and
4. Creating measures/standards to reduce hazards associated with the structural and wildland intermix, including:
a. Fuel modification and vegetation management procedures adjacent to structures and fuel breaks where appropriate;
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b. Vegetation management adjacent to roads and driveways to provide safe travel for residents, and firefighting, medical and police personnel; and c. Building setbacks.
Agency/Department: Nevada County Consolidated Fire District in collaboration with CAL FIRE, the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services, City Engineering, and Planning Departments.
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: 2024
5.6 Hazardous Materials and Mining Hazards (HM)
GOAL
GOAL HM-1: Protect public health, safety, natural resources, and property through regulation of use, storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous materials and waste.
POLICIES
POLICY HM-1: When locating new on and off-site hazardous waste management facilities, the City shall follow the procedures set forth in California State Health and Safety Code, Division 20, Chapter 6.5, Article 8.7-Procedures for the Approval of New Facilities, with the objective of minimizing safety hazards associated with hazardous material and hazardous waste incidents.
POLICY HM-2: Comply with the Nevada County Hazardous Materials Area Plan which provides direction and establishes the policies, responsibilities, and procedures required to protect the health and safety of the City. County's citizens, the environment and public and private property from the effects of hazardous materials emergency incidents. As the principal guide for agencies of Nevada County, the Area Plan shall maintain consistency with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which is the framework for incident management where government and private entities at all levels can work together effectively. Operational as well as a reference document, the Area Plan may be used for pre-emergency, as well as a resource for emergency response.
POLICY HM-3: Promote prompt clean-up and/or remediation of sites contaminated by mine wastes or other hazardous materials. The City shall not grant any discretionary or ministerial land use entitlement to develop or change boundaries or reconfigure parcels believed on properties known to be contaminated, unless and until the nature, extent, type and location of the contamination is determined and satisfactory arrangements are made for clean-up or remediation, in accordance with City and/or State and local regulations.
POLICY HM-4: Continue to coordinate with the Nevada County Environmental Health Department in the review of all projects that require the use, storage, or transport of hazardous materials and waste to ensure necessary measures are taken to protect public health and safety.
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POLICY HM-5: Continue to cooperate with Nevada County and Waste Management of Nevada County to facilitate opportunities for safe disposal of household hazardous waste and development of public education programs to help residents understand the importance of proper disposal of hazardous waste as climate conditions change.
PROGRAMS
PROGRAM HM-1: To the extent resources are available, the City shall convert the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant from using chlorine gas to using liquid chlorine or other measures to avoid the potential of a hazardous gas release (from the Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Agency/Department: Engineering Department
Funding Source: Grants
Time Frame: 2025 or sooner, upon securing grants
5.7 Public Safety Services and Facilities (SF)
GOALS
GOAL SF-1: Support efforts to improving an efficient and effective system of health and emergency services.
GOAL SF-2: Ensure adequate public safety services and facilities are provided to the Community of Nevada City.
POLICIES
POLICY SF-1: Maintain appropriate levels of safety and protection services and facilities.
POLICY SF-2: Consider the following in the review of new development and land use entitlements:
1. The ability of law enforcement personnel to protect multi-family, commercial, industrial, and business park uses, including but not limited to:
a. Exterior lighting of building and parking areas; and b. Vegetation management to provide adequate view of parking areas, building entrances, other areas accessible to the public and maintenance of defensible space.
2. Standards to ensure adequate site and building access for fire and emergency medical access.
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 108
POLICY SF-3: To the extent the City has resources, support efforts to retrofit existing public safety services and critical facilities to comply with fire safety regulations, such as California Fire Safety Regulations, such as Title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 2, articles 1-5 (commencing with section 1270) (SRA Fire Safe Regulations) and title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3 (commencing with section 1299.01) (Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations).
POLICY SF-4: To the extent feasible support efforts to locate new public safety services and critical facilities in locations in lower risk hazard areas.
5.8 Severe Weather (SW)
GOAL
GOAL WH-1: Minimize injury and property damage due to severe weather hazards (rain, snow, lightning, and high winds).
POLICIES
POLICY SW-1: Support efforts by the County and other local agencies in coordination of multijurisdictional preparedness programs and coordinating public awareness of emergency preparedness that educate the public for potential severe weather hazards by:
1. Providing education opportunities to local community groups; and
2. Distributing and website posting of the latest educational documents on emergency preparedness.
POLICY SW-2: Establish and maintain one or more community resilience hubs to better support the needs of vulnerable populations during extreme climate events, such as extreme heat days and smoke events, including, but not limited to health assistance and resources, food refrigeration, charging stations, basic medical supplies, other emergency supplies, and languageappropriate outreach.
POLICY SW-3: Require that the City’s critical facilities have adequate backup power sources and battery storage in order to minimize service disruptions during climate hazard events.
POLICY SW-4: Support efforts by the Nevada County and local community organizations, to establish extreme heat and air quality monitoring systems and develop accessible and language appropriate community education resources to prepare community members for increase extreme heat events and air pollution.
POLICY SW-5: To the extent the City has resources, support equitable access to climate controlled indoor spaces including efforts by community organizations, faith-based organizations, businesses, local government entities in Nevada County, and other institutions to
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 109
improve access to weather shelters to reduce exposure to extreme heat, flooding, cold, and smoke.
PROGRAM
PROGRAM SW-1: Continue to collaborate with Nevada County and local community organizations, such as Sierra Roots, to establish and maintain weather shelters in the City to reduce exposure to extreme heat, cold, and smoke.
5.9 Noise Exposure (NE)
GOALS
Goal NE 1: Protect the existing and future citizens of Nevada City from the harmful effects of exposure to excessive noise.
Goal NE-2: Provide flexibility in the review of development of infill and mixed-use properties or properties near the Downtown area which may be located in elevated noise environments.
Goal NE-3: Develop strategies for abating excessive noise exposure through appropriate mitigation measures in combination with appropriate zoning to avoid incompatible land uses.
Goal NE-4: Provide information regarding the community noise environment so that existing and potential future noise impacts may be effectively addressed in the land use planning and project review processes.
Goal NE-5: Recognize that concerts and tourism-related events contribute to the vitality and character of the City and to develop strategies for balancing the acoustical requirements of both residents and such businesses and events.
Goal NE-6: Recognize that the City of Nevada City allows Short-Term Vacation Rentals in residential areas and that the City applies the residential standards contained herein uniformly to all residential zones.
Goal NE-7: Encourage public awareness of noise and its hazards and means to minimize its existing and future impacts.
POLICIES
Policy NE-1: The Noise Exposure section of the City’s Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element constitutes the City’s Noise Element of the General Plan in accordance with California Government Code § 65302(f).
Policy NE-2: Protect existing noise-sensitive land uses from encroachment by new uses that would generate noise levels which are incompatible with those uses, and to discourage new noise-sensitive land uses from being developed near sources of high noise levels.
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Policy NE 3: Table 4 (Standards for New Uses Affected by Traffic Noise Transportation Sources) and Table 5 (Standards for Locally Regulated non-transportation Sources) shall be used as the City’s noise standards for to determine environmental thresholds of significance (excluding exceptions) for land uses.
Policy NE-4: Noise Exposure standards cited in the Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element are applicable to proposed new uses. For resolving conflicts between existing uses, the City’s Noise Ordinance shall be applicable.
Policy NE-5: To provide a comprehensive approach to noise control, the City shall:
1. Develop and employ procedures to ensure that noise mitigation measures required pursuant to an acoustical analysis are implemented in the project review process and, as may be determined necessary, through the building permit process.
2. Develop and employ procedures to monitor compliance with the standards of this Public Safety Element/Noise Exposure section after completion of projects where noise mitigation measures were required.
Policy NE-6: Coordinate noise control programs with Nevada County.
Policy NE-7: The noise level standards for noise-sensitive areas of new uses affected by traffic noise sources in Nevada City shall be based on Table 4 as shown below.
Policy NE-8: Where future traffic noise levels at new uses proposed within Nevada City are predicted to exceed the noise level standards of Table 4, appropriate noise mitigation measures shall be included in the project design to reduce projected noise levels to a state of compliance with the Table 4 standards at the noise-sensitive areas of the proposed uses as shown below.
Policy NE-9: For capacity-enhancing roadway projects, the construction of new roadways, or projects which will substantially increase traffic on the local roadway network, a noise analysis shall be prepared. If pre-project traffic noise levels already exceed the noise standards as shown in Table 4 as shown below and the increase is significant as defined below, noise mitigation measures should be considered to reduce the project-related traffic noise level increases to less than significant levels.
Table 4. Noise Standards for New Uses Affected by Traffic Noise Nevada City Public Safety Element/Noise Exposure Section
Land Use
Noise Sensitive1
Outdoor Area – DNL7
Noise Sensitive Interior Spaces2,3
DNL7 Leq5,8
Residential 65 45 ---
Mixed Use Residential --- 45 ---
Sensitive Uses Located within the
Broad Street Commercial Area 70 45 ---
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 111
Land Use
Noise Sensitive1
Outdoor Area – DNL7
Noise Sensitive Interior Spaces2,3
DNL7 Leq5,8
Transient Lodging, Hospitals4 & Nursing
Homes 65 45 ---
Theaters & Auditoriums --- --- 35
Churches, Meeting Halls, Libraries 65 --- 40
Schools6 --- --- 40
Office/Professional 65 --- 45
Commercial/Retail Buildings --- --- 50
Playgrounds, Parks, etc. 70 --- ---
Industrial --- --- 50
Notes:
1. Noise sensitive areas are defined in the acoustic terminology section. Where there are no sensitive exterior spaces proposed as part of the new use, only the interior noise level standards shall apply.
2. Interior noise level standards are applied within noise-sensitive areas of the various land uses, with windows and doors in the “closed” positions.
3. Hospitals are often noise-generating uses. The exterior noise level standards for hospitals are applicable only at clearly identified areas designated for outdoor relaxation by either hospital staff or patients.
4. As determined for a typical worst-case hour during periods of use.
5. Exterior areas of school uses are not typically noise sensitive. As a result, the standards for schools are focused on the interior office and classroom spaces.
6. DNL = Day - Night Average Level. Represents 24-hour average of noise with noise occurring during nighttime hours (10 pm to 7 am) penalized by 10 dB prior to averaging.
7. Leq = Average or “Equivalent” noise level. Represents the energy average of all noise occurring during a given period (typically 1-hour).
Policy NE-10: Encourage local law-enforcement agencies to enforce the vehicle noise level limits specified within the California Motor Vehicle Code.
Policy NE-11: The interior and exterior noise level standards for noise-sensitive areas of new uses affected by existing fixed / non-transportation noise sources in Nevada City are shown by Table 5 as shown below.
Policy NE-12: Where the noise level standards of Table 5 as shown below are predicted to be exceeded at a proposed noise-sensitive area due to existing fixed noise sources, appropriate noise mitigation measures shall be included in the project design to reduce projected noise levels to a state of compliance with the Table 5 standards within the identified noise-sensitive areas of the proposed use.
Policy NE-13: Where a project would result in the introduction of new fixed / non-transportation noise sources where such sources do not currently exist, the noise generation of those sources shall be mitigated so as not exceed the interior and exterior noise level standards at noisesensitive areas of existing uses located in the project vicinity as shown in Table 5 below.
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Policy NE-14: If a noise-generating use is proposed adjacent to vacant lands currently zoned for uses which may be developed with exterior noise sensitivity, the noise generating use shall be responsible for mitigating its noise generation to a state of compliance with Table 5 as shown below using reasonable assumptions pertaining to both the likely sensitivity of the receiving land use and the noise generation of the project. At such time as that noise-sensitivity is introduced on the vacant parcel, the noise-generating use will be responsible for complying with the City’s Noise standards.
Policy NE-15: Due to variations in types of both noise-generating and noise-sensitive land uses, as well as variations in ambient conditions in the City, the City shall have the ability to set noise standards which are up to 5 dB higher or lower than as shown in Table 5 below if determined appropriate by the Planning Commission and/or City Planning department staff Policy NE-16: If noise-reducing pavement is to be utilized in conjunction with a roadway improvement project, or if such paving exists adjacent to a proposed new noise-sensitive land use, the acoustical benefits of such pavement shall be included in the noise analysis prepared for the project.
Table 5. Noise Standards for Locally Regulated (non-transportation) Noise Sources – Nevada City Public Safety Element/Noise Exposure Section
Receiving Land Use Period3 Exterior Areas1 Interior Spaces2 Lmax4 Leq5 Lmax4 Leq5
Residential
Day
Evening
Night
75 70
65 55
50 45
60 55
45 45
40 35
Mixed Use Residential
Day
Evening
Night
---
---
---
---
---
---
60 55
45 45
40 35
Transient Lodging Hospitals7 & Nursing
Homes
Day
Evening
Night
75 75
70 60
55 50
60 55
45 45
40 35
Sensitive Uses Located within the Broad
Street Commercial Area
Day
Evening
Night
80 75
70 60
55 50
60 55
45 45
40 35
Theaters & Auditoriums
Day
Evening
Night
75 70
55 50
40 40
40 35
35 35
Churches, Meeting Halls, Libraries Day
Evening
75 70
55 50
55 55
45 40
Schools8 Day
Evening
---
---
---
---
55 55
40 40
Office/Professional Day
Evening
80 75
60 55
60 60
45 45
Commercial/Retail Buildings Day
Evening
85 80
65 60
60 60
50 50
Playgrounds, Parks, etc. Day
Evening
75 75
55 55
---
---
---
---
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 113
Receiving Land Use Period3 Exterior Areas1 Interior Spaces2 Lmax4 Leq5 Lmax4 Leq5
Industrial Day
Evening
80 75
60 55
60 60
50 50
Specific Notes:
1. Noise sensitive areas are defined acoustic terminology section.
2. Interior noise level standards are applied within noise-sensitive areas of the various land uses, as defined in the acoustic terminology section, with windows and doors closed.
3. Daytime hours = 7 am - 7 pm, Evening hours = 7 pm - 9 pm, Nighttime hours = 9 pm - 7 am.
4. Lmax = Highest measured sound level occurring during a given interval of time (Typically 1 hour).
5. Leq = Average or “Equivalent” noise level during the worst-case hour in which the building is in use.
6. Hospitals are often noise-generating uses. The exterior noise level standards for hospitals are applicable only at clearly identified areas designated for outdoor relaxation by either hospital staff or patients.
7. Exterior areas of school uses are not typically noise-sensitive. As a result, the standards for schools are focused on the interior office and classroom spaces.
General Notes Applicable to All Noise Standards and Land Uses:
a. Where the noise source in question consists of speech or music, or is impulsive in nature, or contains a pure tone, the noise standards of this table are reduced by 5 dB. This provision does not apply to permitted amplified music events occurring within Pioneer Park.
b. Where ambient noise levels exceed the noise level standards shown above, the noise standards shall be increased in 5 dB increments to encompass the ambient.
c. Reductions in the noise standards for noise sources identified in general note “A” above shall be applied after any increases warranted by elevated ambient conditions prescribed in general note “B”, subject to verification through a noise study.
d. These standards shall not apply to noise generated at the existing Nevada County Sportsman Club or activities at public parks provided such activities have secured a permit from the planning department.
Policy NE-17: Noise mitigation measures shall be considered where feasible at existing noisesensitive uses or areas affected by existing traffic noise exposure exceeding 65 dB DNL.
Short-Term Vacation Rentals Policies
Policy NE-18: Recognize the need for Short-Term Vacation Rentals in residential areas and that the City applies the residential standards contained herein uniformly to all residential zones.
Policy NE 19: Noise generated by temporary occupants of Sort-Term Vacation Rentals shall not exceed the noise standards of Table 5 as shown above at the noise-sensitive areas of any land uses located within the City of Nevada City.
Policy NE-20: Recognize that concerts and tourism-related events contribute to the vitality and character of the City and to develop strategies for balancing the acoustical requirements of both residents and such businesses and events.
Policy NE-21: For events which include amplified speech and/or music held within Nevada City Parks and Recreation facilities, the facility rental policies shall be applied, including limitations on hours of operation and adherence to the noise requirements contained within the rental policies.
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Policy NE-22: For events which include amplified speech and/or music held within areas of Nevada City which are not Nevada City Parks and Recreation facilities, the noise standards of Table 5 as shown above shall be applicable at the noise-sensitive areas of the receiving land uses.
Policy NE-23: Until such time as the noise standards contained within the Nevada City Code of Ordinances, § 8.20, are updated to be consistent with the standards contained within Table 5 as shown above, the City shall recognize that the noise standards contained within § 8.20 represent average (Leq) noise levels, not maximum (Lmax) noise levels.
Policy NE-24: Require all applications for temporary event or facility permits, such as a facility rental contract, for venues at which amplified speech or music are proposed 3 or more times in a calendar year to be accompanied by a project-specific noise analysis demonstrating that the project can comply with Table 5 as shown above.
Policy NE-25: All noise analyses prepared to determine compliance with the noise level standards as referenced in Table 4 and Table 5 as shown above and shall:
1. Be the responsibility of the applicant.
2. Be prepared by qualified persons experienced in the fields of environmental noise assessment and architectural acoustics.
3. Include representative noise level measurements with sufficient sampling periods and locations to adequately describe local conditions.
4. Estimate projected future (20 year) noise levels in terms of the Standards of Table 4 and Table 5 (as shown above), and compare those levels to the adopted policies of this Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element.
5. Identify potentially significant noise results, recommend appropriate mitigation to achieve compliance with the adopted policies and standards of this Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element.
6. If mitigation is recommended, estimate interior and exterior noise exposure after the prescribed mitigation measures have been implemented.
Policy NE-26: Noise analyses prepared for multi-family residential projects, townhomes, mixeduse, condominiums, or other residential projects where floor ceiling assemblies or party-walls shall be common to different owners/occupants, shall be consistent with the State of California Noise Insulation standards.
Policy NE-27: All projects that propose to use heavy construction equipment that have the potential to create vibrations that could cause structural damage to sensitive structures within 100 feet shall be required to submit a pre-construction vibration study prior to the approval of a building permit. Projects shall be required to incorporate specified measures and monitoring identified to reduce impacts. Pile driving or blasting are illustrative of the type of equipment that
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 115
could be subject to this policy. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) criteria shall be utilized for the assessment of vibration-related impacts.
Policy NE-28: Where exterior noise mitigation is required to achieve satisfaction with the noise standards of either Table 4 or Table 5 (as shown above), the following priorities for mitigation shall be observed where feasible as follows:
1. Use of setbacks or open space buffers.
2. Incorporate site planning to orient and/or shield sensitive exterior areas from the noise source in question.
3. If the noise source is fixed, utilize quieter equipment or implement noise control at the source.
4. Solid walls should be considered a last resort for the mitigation of exterior noise levels and, if feasible, should be placed on earth berms where feasible to lessen their apparent height.
Policy NE-29: Construction and demolition activities located within 1,000 feet of noise-sensitive land uses shall occur during the hours of 7 am – 7 pm, excluding Sundays and Federal Holidays, subject to the conditions imposed by City permit.
Policy NE-30: Construction activities occurring between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am must comply with the interior noise level standards identified in Table 5 unless an exception has been granted by the City Planning Department.
Policy NE-31: The following sources of noise shall be exempt from the provisions of this Noise Exposure section:
1. Emergency warning devices and equipment operated in conjunction with emergency situations, such as sirens and emergency generators which are activated during power outages. The routine testing of such warning devices and equipment, including generators, is also exempt provided such testing occurs during daytime hours.
2. All activities occurring at public schools and public school playgrounds and sporting fields, as such activities are not regulated at the local level.
3. Activities associated with temporary events for which a permit has been obtained from the City (i.e., parades, fireworks displays, festivals, etc.).
4. In the event of emergencies, the City shall have the authority to waive the requirements of this Element as deemed appropriate.
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 116
PROGRAMS
Program NE-1: Amend the City’s Noise Ordinance to be consistent with this Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element to:
1. Reference maximum noise exposure levels by use/zoning district to minimize exposure to excessive noise at nighttime hours consistent with Table 4 and Table 5 (as shown above).
2. Include designating reasonable commercial activity loading/unloading hours. Also, these regulations will establish and enforce noise regulations which set limits on intensity and hours of truck routes within city jurisdiction.
3. Establish and enforce noise abatement requirements for new development in mixed-use and commercial centers/corridors.
4. Exempt certain sources from full compliance with the regulations.
5. Contain restrictions for special events in private and public places.
Agency/Department: Police and Planning Departments
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Two Years-2025
5.10 Other Considerations (OC)
Overall Other Considerations
The goal below is for all Other Considerations.
GOAL
GOAL OC – Reduce the exposure to, increase preparedness for, and reduce recovery times from natural and human-caused safety risks for all communities and populations in the City.
POLICIES
POLICY OC-1: The Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is periodically reviewed and updated in accordance with the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and California Government Code § 65302.6, is incorporated into this Safety Element by reference.
POLICY OC-2: Continue to conduct an annual assessment of capital improvement needs and research of available funding sources for funding programs identified in this Safety Element.
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Power Shutoff Events and Improved Power Grid Safety
POLICY OC-3: Through collaboration with Nevada County, the Grass Valley Fire Department, the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, and other agencies, coordinate with Pacific Gas and Electric power shutoffs.
POLICY OC-4: Work with utility companies to determine the feasibility of undergrounding utility lines during construction of new developments and in the most at-risk areas, and to identify funding mechanisms to support undergrounding activities.
Military Land Use Compatibility
POLICY OC-5: Ensure early notification to the military of proposed discretionary development projects within the Military Operation Area (MOA) by implementing California Government Code §§ 65352(a)(5) and (6)(A), § 65940 and § 65944 to facilitate the exchange of project related information pertinent to military operations within the MOA.
Environmental Justice
Although an environmental justice element is not required by statute, the City intends to meet the intent of environmental justice with the following policies:
POLICIES
POLICY OC-6: Ensure that public emergency operations' (including evacuation routes) educational materials are available via different platforms and in formats that are understandable by the public, including non-English readers.
POLICY OC-7: Ensure that Nevada City emergency facilities and services are located and/or can respond equitably to the emergency needs of vulnerable populations and communities.
POLICY OC-8: Work with other jurisdictions and agencies to prepare for public safety power shutoffs and shall be supportive of viable plans to provide resources for the community and vulnerable populations during and after public safety power shutoff events.
POLICY OC-9: Prioritize programs and investments aimed at addressing climate change impacts and supporting community resilience for vulnerable populations, such as seniors, children, individuals with existing health conditions, individuals who live or work outdoors, and lowerincome residents.
POLICY OC-10: POLICY OC-10: Help support efforts to educate the public about the health impacts of poor air quality, including particulate pollution and ozone from wildfire smoke, vehicle emissions, and other sources through education and outreach and local pollutant monitoring, focusing on protection of vulnerable populations including youth and seniors.
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 118
POLICY OC-11: Prioritize the needs of at-risk, vulnerable, and disadvantaged populations during emergency response and disaster recovery efforts, including increasing awareness of defensible space requirements and promoting understanding of evacuation routes.
Water Quality
POLICY
POLICY OC-12: The City shall support programs that reduce pollution impacts within its watershed.
PROGRAMS
PROGRAM OC-13: To the extent the City has resources, to avoid sedimentation impacts on Deer Creek, improve the water intake system at the City’s Water Treatment plan (see Appendix B, Annex-B of the Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for specific improvement details and costs).
Agency/Department: Engineering Department
Funding Source: Grants and General Fund
Time Frame: 2025 or sooner, upon securing grants
Reduced Carbon Footprint and Improved Air Quality:
POLICIES
POLICY OC-13: The City shall encourage the use of electrical vehicles and equipment when practical as a preference in its procurement process.
POLICY OC-14: The City shall promote the installation of electrical vehicle charging stations.
POLICY OC-15: The City shall continue to promote alternative transportation modes, such as walking and bicycle trails.
POLICY OC-16: The City shall continue to promote the use of solar power, such as solar panels that shade parking lots.
POLICY OC-17: The City shall collaborate with others in developing and implementing programs that reduce the reliance on automobiles, such as the Nevada County Active Transportation Plan (NCAT). The NCAT identifies new and improved walking, biking, and trail facilities within the City, improves options and increasing safety for these modes of travel.
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PROGRAMS
PROGRAM OC-14: To the extent the City has resources and to promote electrical vehicle use, the City shall install electrical vehicle charging stations within City parking areas, along heavy use public streets and parking devoted to City employees.
Agency/Department: All City Department
Funding Source: Grants and General Fund
Time Frame: Establish pilot program in 2024 and ongoing PROGRAM OC-15: The City shall amend its procurement procedures to promote the use and replacement of vehicles and equipment, where practical with electric systems.
Agency/Department: All City Department
Funding Source: Grants and General Fund
Time Frame: 2023
PROGRAM OC-16: The City shall collaborate with others, including Caltrans, Nevada County, and the Nevada County Transportation Commission to seek funding and implement the Nevada County Active Transportation Plan.
Agency/Department: All City Department
Funding Source: Grants and General Fund
Time Frame: Ongoing
Miscellaneous
POLICY
POLICY OC-17: The City shall collaborate with others in developing and implementing programs that reduce the reliance on automobiles, such as the Nevada County Active Transportation Plan (NCAT). The NCAT identifies new and improved walking, biking, and trail facilities within the City, and options for improvements and increasing safety for such facilities and these modes of travel.
PROGRAM
PROGRAM OC-16: The City Planning Commission shall annually review the Climate Adaptation and Public Safety Element programs as needed to comply with the intent and purpose of all goals and policies to address changing public safety plans and programs that relate to this Plan, Any changes to the programs in this Plan that comply with the intent and purpose of this Plan shall be subject to approved by resolution of the City Council. However, substantial changes to goals,
NEVADA CITY CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023 120
policies, and/or programs in this Plan, that result in inconsistencies with the General Plan or that affect internal consistencies between goals and policies of this Plan shall be subject to a General Plan Amendment.
Agency/Department: All City Departments, the Planning Commission, and the City Council Funding Source: General fund
Time Frame: Annually
Section 6 APPENDICES
APPENDIX A – CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT AND RESULTS APPENDIX B – ANNEX-B OF THE NEVADA COUNTY LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN APPENDIX C – NOISE ELEMENT/EXPOSURE BACKGROUND REPORT
APPENDIX D – LIST OF CRITICAL PUBLIC FACILITIES
APPENDIX E – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
APPENDIX F – TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
APPENDIX G – REFERENCES
Appendix A
Safety Element Update
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
prepared by
City of Nevada City
317 Broad Street
Nevada City, California 95959
Contact: Joan Phillipe, City Manager
prepared with the assistance of
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
4825 J St #200
Sacramento, CA 95819
September, 2022
Table of Contents
ii
Table of Contents
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment i
Table of Contents
1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................3
1.1 Setting............................................................................................................................3
1.2 Vulnerability Assessment Methodology..........................................................................5 2 Exposure....................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Historical Hazards...........................................................................................................6
2.2 Climate Change Projections..........................................................................................11 3 Sensitivity ................................................................................................................................20
3.1 Populations..................................................................................................................20
3.2 Community Structures and Infrastructure.....................................................................21
3.3 Parks and Open Space ..................................................................................................23
3.4 Services........................................................................................................................23 4 Potential Impacts.....................................................................................................................25
4.1 Increased Temperature and Extreme Heat ...................................................................25
4.2 Variable Precipitation...................................................................................................27
4.3 Wildfire ........................................................................................................................29
4.4 Compounding Risks......................................................................................................31
4.4.1 Landslides and Mudflows..............................................................................31
4.4.2 Water Quality ...............................................................................................31
4.4.3 Ecosystem Changes.......................................................................................32 5 Adaptive Capacity....................................................................................................................33
5.1 State and County Coordination and Assistance .............................................................33
5.2 Disaster Planning..........................................................................................................37
5.3 City Facilities and Services............................................................................................40
5.4 Open Space Management ............................................................................................40
5.5 Private Property ...........................................................................................................41 6 Vulnerability Analysis...............................................................................................................43
6.1 Coordination ................................................................................................................43
6.2 Disaster Preparedness and Response ...........................................................................44
6.3 City Facilities, Services, and Open Space .......................................................................45
6.4 Private Property ...........................................................................................................46 Tables
Table 1 State or Federally Declared Disasters in Nevada County 1950-2009................................7 Table 2 Potential Impacts from Increased Temperature............................................................25 City of Nevada City
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Table 3 Potential Impacts from Precipitation ............................................................................27 Table 4 Potential Impacts from Wildfire....................................................................................29 Table 5 Coordinated Planning Documents & Agreements.........................................................35 Table 6 Nevada City Relevant Planning Documents...................................................................38 Figures
Figure 1 Historical and Projected Average Maximum Temperatures in Nevada City ...................12 Figure 2 Historical and Projected Average Minimum Temperatures in Nevada City ....................12 Figure 3 Historical and Projected Number of Extreme Heat Days in Nevada City ........................13 Figure 4 Historical and Projected Number of Warm Nights in Nevada City .................................13 Figure 5 Historical and Projected Annual Precipitation...............................................................15 Figure 6 Historical and Projected Maximum 1-Day Precipitation ................................................15 Figure 7 Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map....................................................................................17 Figure 8 Change in Wildfire Risk (Medium-Emissions Scenario, RCP 4.5).....................................18 Figure 9 Change in Wildfire Risk (High-Emissions Scenario, RCP 8.5)...........................................18 Figure 10 Estimated Decadal Fire Probability for Nevada City RCP 4.5 ..........................................18 Figure 11 Estimated Decadal Fire Probability for Nevada City RCP 8.5 ..........................................19 Introduction
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 3
1 Introduction
Consistent with Senate Bill (SB) 379, this report provides a climate change vulnerability assessment for Nevada City. The assessment evaluates the potential impacts of climate change on community assets and populations. Understanding the community's vulnerabilities to climate change provides a foundation to define future adaptation strategies for the Safety Element Update and other planning efforts in Nevada City (the City).
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report defines vulnerability as “the propensity or predisposition to be adversely affected.” It adds that vulnerability “encompasses various concepts and elements including sensitivity or susceptibility to harm and lack of capacity to cope and adapt.”
1 A climate change vulnerability assessment examines the susceptibility of the City’s social, economic, and environmental fabric to harm from climate related hazards, and the community’s ability to adapt to the changing risks pertaining to those hazards.
Consistent with the 2020 Cal OES California Adaptation Planning Guide 2 the assessment is
comprised of the following five elements:
1. Exposure. The nature and degree to which a stress or hazard occurs within the City’s geography
2. Sensitivity. The aspects of the community (i.e., populations, community structures and infrastructure, parks and open space, and services) most affected by the identified exposures
3. Potential Impacts. The nature and degree to which different aspects of the community can be affected by a given stressor, change, or disturbance
4. Adaptive Capacity. The ability to cope with extreme events, to make changes, or to transform to a greater extent, including the ability to moderate potential damages and to take advantage of opportunities
5. Vulnerability. The overall risk to different aspects of the community from potential impacts given their adaptive capacity
1.1 Setting
History. Nevada City was incorporated in 1856 and encompasses approximately 2.2 square miles. It is centrally located in the western half of Nevada County and serves as the County Seat. The City sits approximately 60 miles northeast of Sacramento and 84 miles southwest of Reno in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. At approximately 2,500 feet in elevation above sea level, it is surrounded by forest covered hills and agricultural land. The Sierra Nevada Mountain range lies to the east of the City, running northwest and southeast, and the Sacramento Valley lies to the west.
Highways 49 and 20 run through the City and connect with Interstate 80 which runs to the south and east. Highway 20 also connects Nevada City to Yuba City 39 miles to the west.
Though the region was inhabited by the indigenous Nisenan tribe for thousands of years, the urban development of Nevada City began in the 1849 when it rapidly grew into a Gold Rush town. Miners streamed into the area to pan for gold along Deer Creek which still runs through the center of the 1 IPCC 2021: Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, A. Pirani, S. L. Connors, C. Péan, S.
Berger, N. Caud, Y. Chen, L. Goldfarb, M. I. Gomis, M. Huang, K. Leitzell, E. Lonnoy, J.B.R. Matthews, T. K. Maycock, T. Waterfield, O.
Yelekçi, R. Yu and B. Zhou (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press. In Press. 2 Cal OES 2020: California Adaptation Planning Guide
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4 City. Mining and timber harvesting played a central role in Nevada City’s development and economy from its founding into the 1950’s. As the seat of Nevada County, Nevada City was the commercial, government, and professional center of the county through the end of the century. With the decline of gold mining and timber harvesting across the state, it has gradually shifted to preserve its historic past and develop local tourism.
Though the city of Grass Valley has become a regional commercial hub, Nevada City remains a center of local government and is a vibrant hub for events and culture. It created its first historic district in 1968, and the entire downtown area is a registered national historic landmark since 1985.
The historic district includes 93 buildings and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, along with eight individual buildings which are also listed. The city also contains 18 state and local landmarks. The draw of this rich landscape of historic structures and landmarks is enhanced by the many annual events, restaurants, local cultural attractions, and natural surroundings. The City is the gateway to the Yuba-Donner Scenic Byway and Tahoe National Forest which borders eastern Nevada County.
Land Use. Nevada City is physically and economically centered around its historic core which serves as the City’s center of commerce and the central attraction for tourism. Residential development is clustered around the historic downtown area and is mostly comprised of small single-family residential parcels. Further from the core, there is newer housing including some pockets of multifamily residential and commercial. Parks, preserved open spaces, and large wooded estates are interspersed with and surround the town supporting the City’s goal of preserving a tight urban cluster surrounded by wooded lands. The housing mix is predominantly single-family residential and rural residential. The geographic distribution of single-family and multifamily residences is generally the inverse of most cities, with single-family residences concentrated around the central business district and historic core and multiple family residences located further away from the historic core.
This land use pattern is intended to preserve the historic and scenic feel of the town, which serves as a driver for the local tourism economy.
Facilities. The City operates a variety of public buildings and facilities, including City Hall, City Yard, museums, two fire stations, streetlights, parking lighting, a water storage reservoir, and water treatment plant and a wastewater treatment plant. It owns and operates approximately 300 acres of open space with trails maintained for public use, as well as approximately 15 acres of parks with facilities, such as Seaman’s Lodge and Bandshell Amphitheater that serve both year-round residents and the considerable swell of summertime and weekend visitors. The City maintains the public sewer system, approximately 17 miles of water distribution pipeline, and many roads within its sphere of influence with Nevada County and the local water utility also providing some services and maintenance.
Services. General services provided by the City include planning and community development, public safety and animal control, transportation and circulation planning, solid waste, and storm drainage planning. The Nevada City Fire Department (NCFD) merged with the Grass Valley Fire Department (GVFD) in 2020, contracting services through Grass Valley. Additionally, the Fire Department is party to a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) with GVFD and the Nevada County Consolidated Fire Department (NCCFD), ensuring that emergencies are responded to by the closest agency regardless of jurisdiction. The JOA also depends on and provides mutual or automatic aid, per agreements with other agencies in the area, including CAL FIRE, and coordinates with the Office of Emergency Services (OES), US Forest Service (USFS), and California Department of Forestry.
The City has been providing wastewater services since the late eighteenth century. The City owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant along Deer Creek, which was upgraded most recently in Introduction
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 5
2006 to increase capacity. Treated effluent is discharged into Deer Creek under conditions specified in the City’s wastewater discharge permit, and the City operates monitoring stations above and below the discharge point with water quality reports submitted throughout the year.
The City provides water to residents sourced with surface water from Little Deer Creek. The City’s service area generally includes the original townsite which covers nearly 70 percent of water accounts within the incorporated City, with the remaining service connections in areas subsequently annexed by the City being served by the Nevada Irrigation District (NID). City water provision is supplemented with water from NID during the months of summer and early fall when the weather is dry and water usage is highest, typically June through September. NID sources water from both the Upper Yuba and Upper Bear watersheds and the water purchased by Nevada City is supplied from NID’s D.S. Canal, also a surface water source.
Electricity and gas are provided to the community by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
According to the City’s Energy Action Plan, there is potentially significant propane and non-utility fuel use in Nevada City but not enough data to analyze fuel use.
1.2 Vulnerability Assessment Methodology
Climate change adaptation and resilience must be addressed in the Nevada City Safety Element in accordance with SB 379, which requires that the Safety Element include climate adaptation and resilience strategies informed by a vulnerability assessment that includes a set of goals, policies, and objectives.
Future changes in climate are based on global models. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change provides several greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scenarios to describe possible future GHG emissions and associated climate outcomes. Two of these Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) are commonly used to explore a range of possible future climate conditions. RCP 4.5 represents a “mitigation” scenario in which global emissions peak around 2040 and decline at the end of the century. This scenario assumes global agreement and implementation of GHG-reduction strategies. On the other hand, RCP 8.5 represents a “high emissions” scenario in which emissions continue to rise throughout the twenty-first century.
The Cal-Adapt tool is designed to assist local jurisdictions with climate change adaptation and resilience planning. Cal-Adapt is a web-based platform that includes climate change projections and climate impact research downscaled to the local level for different RCP scenarios. The projections are based on the extensive body of peer-reviewed climate research described in California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment. The University of California Berkeley’s Geospatial Innovation Facility developed and maintains the Cal-Adapt tool with oversight and funding from the California Energy Commission and California Strategic Growth Council. Consistent with guidance from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), this climate vulnerability assessment uses RCP 4.5 and RCP
8.6 (Cal OES 2020). Climate change projections taken from Cal-Adapt for the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 projections will be assessed under the categories of temperature, precipitation, wildfire, snowpack, and drought. These projections will be used in conjunction with population and built environment data to determine the degree to which the community of Nevada City is vulnerable under different climate change scenarios.
City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
6 2 Exposure
Climate change is a global phenomenon that can impact local health, natural resources, infrastructure, emergency response, tourism, and many other facets of society. Projected changes to the climate are dependent on location. The Cal-Adapt tool provides climate data from global scale models that has been localized (downscaled) to 3.7 mile by 3.7-mile grids. The data in CalAdapt is combined with additional information to model future changes in specific types of hazards.
The climate hazards of concern addressed in this analysis are:
▪ Temperature
▪ Precipitation and Snowfall
▪ Flooding
▪ Drought
▪ Wildfire
This section first details climate hazards as they have occurred and changed historically in the Historical Hazards subsection then expands on those climate hazards as they are expected to change in frequency, severity, and duration in the Climate Change Projections subsection (2.2).
2.1 Historical Hazards
The climate hazards of concern in Nevada City and the surrounding region have impacted the community in the past. Understanding historical hazards in the area provides context for assessing future climate changes and impacts.
Nevada County issued 22 disaster declarations and/or emergency declarations between 1950 and 2009 that were of sufficient magnitude to warrant declarations of a State of Emergency by the Governor of California and 13 of these declarations have progressed to a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Thirteen of these twenty-two past disasters (59 percent) were flood related, four (18 percent) were wildland fires, two were related to severe cold (9 percent), two were economic related (9 percent), and one was related to drought (5 percent).3 Table 1 lists the year, hazard type, and declaration details for each of these disasters.
3 Nevada City Annex to the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for Nevada County. October 1, 2013. https://www.mynevadacounty.com/ DocumentCenter/View/15716/2013-Nevada-City-Annex-FEMA-Approved-PDF (accessed September 2021).
Exposure
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Table 1 State or Federally Declared Disasters in Nevada County 1950-2009 Hazard Type Year
State Declared &
Disaster Number
(if available)
Federal
Declared Date
Flood 1950 CDO 50‐01 No
Flood 1955 DR-47 12/23/1955
Flood 1958 Yes 4/4/1958
Fire 1961 Yes No
Severe Storm, Flood 1963 Yes No
Flood 1963 Yes 2/25/1963
Flood 1964 Yes 12/29/1964
Severe storm, Freeze 1972 Yes No
Drought 1976 Yes No
Flood, Severe Storm 1982 DR-677 2/9/1983
Severe Storm, Flood 1986 DR-758 2/18/1986
Fire 1987 Yes No
Fire 1988 DR-815 9/13/1988
Severe Storm, Snow/Ice 1990 GP 989‐06 No
Severe Storm, Flood 1995 DR-1044 1/13/1995
Flood 1997 DR-1155 1/4/1997
Economic – Energy 1 2001 GP-2001 No
Flood 2005/06 DR-1628 2/3/2006
Flood 2006 DR-1646 6/5/2006
Flood 2008 GP 2008‐01 No
Fire – Yuba Fire 2009 FM 2825 8/15/2009
Drought 2014 GP 2014-13 No
Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, and
Mudslides
2017 DR-4301 2/14/2017
Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, and
Mudslides
2017 DR-4308 4/3/2017
1 In 2001 the Western United States experienced an energy crisis including shortages in electricity supply, regional blackouts and economic burdens. This type of emergency parallels the cascading climate change impacts expanded on throughout the assessment.
Extreme Heat
Observed temperatures in the Eldorado and Tahoe National Forests, and nearby Sierra Nevada, suggest that the area has already begun experience a significant increase in average temperature over the last century, with most of the increase occurring in the latter half of the 1900s and early 2000s. This includes observations (1893-2009) at the Nevada City weather station (39°16’N, 121°2’W; WRCC) indicating that mean annual temperatures at the Nevada City station increased by City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
8 2.1°F over the last 116 years, mostly due to an increase in minimum (i.e., nighttime) temperatures by almost 7°F.4
Extreme heat events are defined as days in which the daily maximum temperature exceeds the ninety-eighth percentile value of the historical average. For Nevada City, extreme heat days occur when the maximum temperature is above the 96.2°F. While there have been no FEMA or Cal OES declared heat disasters to date, there have been nine extreme heat events according to the National Climate Data Center in Nevada City.5 These occurred during the years 1999, 2000 (five occurrences), and 2013 (three occurrences).
Precipitation and Snowfall
Precipitation over the Sierra Nevada region is highly variable from year to year with historical fluctuations in annual precipitation totals ranging from about 50 percent to 200 percent of normal.
Precipitation totals also vary widely within the region, dependent upon the number of strong storms that arrive any given winter, as well as topographical features. Nevada City, which is located in the northern Sierra Nevada is more directly in the path of strong North Pacific storms and generally tends to be wetter than the southern part of the range. The Sierra Nevada is subject to climatic fluctuations emanating from the Pacific Ocean on a wide range of time scales, including the best known of these which is El Nino, and these climate variations contribute to the region’s overall variability.
6 General changes in precipitation patterns have been observed across the western United States since the mid-1900s, including more rainfall and less snowfall, reduced snow depths, and decreased snow-water equivalents as a proportion of precipitation. Precipitation totals in Nevada City rose significantly between 1894 and 2011 from 45.9 inches to 62.4 inches, respectively. During this same period, rising temperatures reduced the proportion of precipitation falling as snow. This was balanced by the increase in total precipitation such that annual snowfall totals remained relatively constant. Declines in early-spring snowpack and snow-water equivalents observed at monitoring stations in the same area, indicate that while snowfall remained relatively constant, snowmelt typically began occurring earlier in the year which changes the timing of snow-fed streamflow. 7 Flooding
One-hundred-year and 500-year floodplains have been mapped for Nevada City. The City lies outside of the 500-year floodplain, though the land surrounding Deer Creek Ravine, west from Scott’s Flat Reservoir through Nevada City towards Penn Valley, falls within a 100-year flood inundation area.
8 Regional seasonal flooding in Nevada County is generally associated with annual drainage and runoff from rainstorms.
4 A summary of current trends and probable future trends in climate and climate-driven processes in the Eldorado and Tahoe National Forests and the neighboring Sierra Nevada. Mallek, Chris, Hugh Safford. January 2014. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3822549.pdf (accessed August 2021) 5 Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, 2017 6 Sierra Nevada Region Report, California Fourth Climate Change Assessment. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019- 11/Reg_Report-SUM-CCCA4-2018-004_SierraNevada_ADA.pdf (accessed: August 2021). 7 A summary of current trends and probable future trends in climate and climate-driven processes in the Eldorado and Tahoe National Forests and the neighboring Sierra Nevada. Mallek, Chris, Hugh Safford. January 2014. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3822549.pdf (accessed: August 2021). 8 Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. https://www.mynevadacounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/15423/2017-Nevada-CountyLocal-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-PDF?bidId= (accessed August 2021).
Exposure
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Nevada City has experienced several recent flood events in 1986, 1995, 1997, 2004, and 2005. Per the Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and Nevada City Disaster Plan, there is one commercial building at the southwest corner of Broad Street that is below grade level. This is where Deer and Little Deer creeks converge and where flooding is most pronounced near the foot of the City’s commercial district. This conversion point has experienced approximately 3 feet of flood water intrusion and flooding to some commercial buildings during past severe flood events. In both 1995 and 2004, an underground culvert connecting Deer Creek and Little Deer Creek under a parking lot at the intersection of Sacramento Street and Broad Street failed, resulting in damages to the parking lot surface. In both 1995 and 2005, Little Deer Creek overflowed its banks in Pioneer Park, resulting in damage to the tennis courts, baseball diamond and horseshoe pits. Residential flooding has occurred in the past, primarily due to overwhelmed drainage ditches and seasonal dry creeks. Past flooding has typically been confined to a portion of the affected property and receded within a few minutes to a few hours.
Drought
Drought is defined as a deficit of water supply in a region due to below-average precipitation over a seasonal period. Over several years this can cause a serious hydrological imbalance that results in biological losses and can further lead to economic losses. Extended periods of drought have historically occurred in California, given the state’s Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters. When drought conditions set in, water supply decreases, and water conservation becomes necessary. Significant California droughts have occurred in 1929-1934, 1976- 1977, 1987-1992, and 2012-2016, with a less severe drought occurring in 2007-2009. The drought from 2012-2016 was one of most extreme of these historic periods of drought and featured both record-high temperatures and record-low levels of snowpack and precipitation. On April 21, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency proclamation for some areas of the state, expanding this to include 41 of the state’s 58 counties, including Nevada County, in May of 2021. In late April of 2021 the NID proclaimed a drought emergency throughout the district’s service area, requesting voluntary water usage reductions by customers, and in June the district began considering mandatory reductions.
The National Drought Mitigation Center and U.S. Drought Monitor classify droughts into five categories: D0 is the least severe with abnormally dry conditions, and D4 is the most severe, with exceptional drought conditions. Since the end of July 2021, 41.64 percent of the land area within Nevada County has been designated as being in class D3 Extreme Drought and 58.36 percent as being in class D4 Exceptional Drought. Impacts of extreme and exceptional drought include increases in the cost during fire seasons due to an increase in the number of fires and areas burned, increased likelihood of pine beetle infestation, high forest mortality, increased wildlife mortality, water shortages, and mandatory water conservations measures, among others.9 In June of 2021 the Nevada City, City Council passed Resolution No. 2021-25 declaring a Stage 3 drought (Water Shortage Warning), triggering the corresponding mandatory conservation measures outlined in the City’s 2015 Drought Action Plan. The resolution was triggered by a review of city water conditions, which included a finding that the City’s reservoir reached 4 feet below spill level 3 months sooner than the historical norm. The City also began ordering supplemental water from NID months earlier than is typically done. Conservation measures mandated by the City include 15 9 U.S. Drought Monitor. Data Tables. https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DmData/DataTables.aspx?state,ca (accessed August 2021).
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10 percent reductions in year-over-year water usage by all customers and restrictions on certain types of water usage such as outdoor watering.
10 Wildfire
Nevada County has a long history of wildfire and fire management, having experienced a total of 170 fires larger than 300 acres between 1900 and 2010. During the period covered by the Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan fire perimeters map, 1950-2010, the three urban population centers in the county, including Nevada City, did not receive direct wildland fire damage, though all three cities have had significant fire damage prior to 1880. When the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) responds to a major emergency incident, such as an extended-day wildfire 10 acres or greater, the incident it logged in the CAL FIRE Incident Database.
According to the CAL FIRE Incident Database there were 20 wildfire incidents recorded for Nevada County between 2011 and August of 2021, that burned a total of 17,524 acres. Of those, six fires burned more than 300 acres in a single incident, with the average area burned being 2,805 acres.
Recent large fires include the Jones Fire that burned 705 acres in Nevada County northwest of Nevada City in August of 2020, and the River Fire that burned 2,619 acres in Nevada and Placer Counties in August of 2021.
11 Recently, on August 25th, 2021, the City Council ratified Proclamation no. 2021-01, a proclamation by the City Manager, acting as the Director of Civil Defense and Disaster, declaring the existence of a local emergency due to extreme fire danger. During the resulting state of emergency, it is prohibited to ignite or maintain any outdoor fire for ceremonial, special event, or recreational purposes within city limits. The prohibition includes the use of recreational and warming equipment, such as fire pits and portable stoves, but excludes barbeques used for cooking on private or otherwise lawfully occupied property. The emergency declaration will remain in effect subject to periodic review by the City Council until conditions are deemed fit to end the declaration and lift the prohibitions.
The fire season typically extends from early spring to late fall. Conditions that increase the likelihood of fire include hot weather, an accumulation of vegetation, and low moisture content in the air, high winds, and drought. Federal and state forestry practices and policies over the last century have relied on fire suppression as the primary fire management technique, contributing to a large accumulation of fuel. Fuel load, topography, and weather are three factors contributing to an area’s potential for wildfire. The greatest risk for loss of life, property, and structures is associated with fires along the wildland-urban interface (WUI). WUI is a term describing development that is interspersed or adjacent to landscapes that support wildland fire.
Nevada City is entirely located within a wildland-urban interface and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
12 The City is surrounded by federal forest lands with high fuel loads. Any fire occurring in another part of the County has a significant potential to become a catastrophic fire when wind, temperature and humidity conditions combine to quickly enlarge fires. Per the City’s Disaster Plan, many of the roadways in the City consist of single-lane roads and double-lane roads that are not city-maintained and do not meet the current standards for city-maintained roads. Additionally, many residential parcels have driveways that are single lane, with encroaching vegetation due to only sporadic clearing, and most of these are unpaved. These factors may contribute to bottlenecks 10 City of Nevada City Resolution No. 2021-25. https://nevadacityca.gov/files/documents/DroughtResolution2021- 251318075038062221PM.pdf (accessed August 2021).
11 CAL FIRE Incident Database. https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/IncidentSearch?q=Nevada+County (accessed August 2021). 12 Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. https://www.mynevadacounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/15423/2017-NevadaCounty-Local-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-PDF?bidId= (accessed August 2021).
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during evacuation efforts and difficulty accessing some structures or areas of the City by fire departments and first responders during a fire.
2.2 Climate Change Projections
Temperature
Climate change impacts to temperature are already underway in the Sierra Nevada region, affecting heat and precipitation extremes, long-term warming trends, and related hydrological cycle and ecosystem functioning. Overall temperatures are expected to continue to increase across the Sierra Nevada region in the coming decades. The average warming projected by 10 climate models responding to the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 climate scenarios is 6 to 9°F in the northern Sierra Nevada by the end of the twenty-first century.
13 Under RCP 4.5 the average temperature in Nevada County is projected to increase to 67.9°F by mid-twenty-first century and 69.1°F by the end of the twenty-first century compared to the historical annual average maximum temperature of 63.8°F. Furthermore, the intensity and frequency of extreme heat days is also projected to increase.
Compared to 2005, average maximum temperatures in Nevada City are expected to rise between
3.9° F (RCP 4.5) and 4.8°F (RCP 8.5) by mid-century, and 5.1° F (RCP 4.5) and 8.6°F (RCP 8.5) by the end of the century. Average minimum temperatures in Nevada City are expected to rise between
4.4°F (RCP 4.5) and 7.8°F (RCP 8.5) by the end of the century. Extreme heat days are defined as a day when the maximum temperature is above a threshold value. The threshold value is the ninetyeighth percentile value of historical daily maximum temperatures observed at that location. The historical baseline is derived from observed temperatures between April and October of 1961 through 1990. For Nevada City extreme heat days occur when the maximum temperature is above the threshold temperature of 96.2°F. The historical number for extreme heat days annually is a 30- year average of approximately 4 days. By the end of the century, extreme heat days are expected to increase by more than 30 days annually under RCP 4.5 and more than 57 days annually under RCP
8.5. Warm nights are defined as occurring when the daily minimum temperature is above the ninetyeighth percentile for historic daily minimums observed at a location. For Nevada City, the threshold is 61.9°F, and the modeled historical number of warm nights is a 30-year average of five nights annually. By the end of the century, warm nights are expected to increase by more than 27 nights annually under RCP 4.5 and more than 60 nights annually under RCP 8.5. 14 Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, and Figure 4 below show the observed trends and projections for the annual average maximum temperature, annual average minimum temperature, annual number of extreme heat days, and the annual number of warm nights in Nevada City, respectively. The purple line shows high emissions scenario (RCP 8.5). The blue line shows the medium emissions scenario (RCP 4.5), and the grey line illustrates the current trend (observed). The shaded areas indicate the range for the emissions scenario. For example, the blue shaded area represents the range of data for the medium-emissions scenario (RCP 4.5).
13 Sierra Nevada Region Report, California Fourth Climate Change Assessment. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019- 11/Reg_Report-SUM-CCCA4-2018-004_SierraNevada_ADA.pdf (accessed August 2021). 14 Cal-Adapt Local Climate Change Snapshot for Nevada City. https://cal-adapt.org/tools/local-climate-change-snapshot/ (accessed August 2021).
City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
12 Figure 1 Historical and Projected Average Maximum Temperatures in Nevada City Figure 2 Historical and Projected Average Minimum Temperatures in Nevada City Exposure
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 13
Figure 3 Historical and Projected Number of Extreme Heat Days in Nevada City Figure 4 Historical and Projected Number of Warm Nights in Nevada City Precipitation and Snowpack
Precipitation over the Sierra Nevada region is highly variable from year to year, which obscures trends in projected annual precipitation totals. The average precipitation projections from 10 City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
14 climate models ranges between a decrease in total precipitation of 5 percent to an increase in total precipitation by 10 percent. The overall indication is that climate change may create a small tendency towards a wetter Sierra Nevada region, but the projected trends for precipitation totals remain small compared to the year-to-year variability that characterizes California’s climate. As a result, projected changes to precipitation extremes are of greater significance. Across climate models, there is a tendency for projected changes in Sierra Nevada precipitation extremes to increase because of climate change in the twenty-first century. The consensus projection is that there will be more dry periods punctuated by increased precipitation intensities of the largest storms or wet periods, producing little net change in precipitation totals but more extreme conditions throughout. The amount of precipitation from the largest storms is projected to increase by 5-30 percent compared to historical norms.
15 Some clear trends have begun to emerge in Sierra Nevada climate observations since the 1950s, including declines in the fraction of precipitation that falls as snow instead of rain, reduced snowpack, and earlier snowmelt. Even though total precipitation is not projected to change substantially, snowpack in the Sierra Nevada range is universally projected to decline in response to warming. Projected warming from climate change in the Sierra Nevada mountains is significant enough to raise the elevation where precipitation transitions from rain to snow during a storm (i.e., the snow line) by about 1,500 to 3,000 feet by end of century. Earlier snowmelt will prevent the snowpack from accumulating or persisting for as long as under historical conditions. Snow is expected to transition completely to rain below 6,000 feet of elevation and snowpack reduced by 60-90 percent across nearly the entire range by the end of the century. Snow reflects radiation from the sun back out of the earth’s atmosphere. As warming reduces snow in the various ways described above, the reduction in reflectivity from snow loss will likely increase the radiation that is absorbed at the earth surface, further increasing warmth and snow loss in a feedback loop. 16 Nevada City mirrors the climate projections for the Sierra Nevada region, precipitation projections for Nevada City indicate smaller changes in average annual precipitation and more significant increases in precipitation extremes. Figure 5 and Figure 6 show the historical and projected changes in annual precipitation and maximum 1-day precipitation, respectively. ▪ The modeled historical baseline of precipitation totals within Nevada City is 57.3 inches annually.
▪ Mid-Century projections range between a decrease of 0.9 inches (RCP 4.5) to an increase of 0.3 inches (RCP 8.5) of average annual precipitation.
▪ End-Century projections range between no change (RCP 4.5) to an increase of 1.0 inches (RCP
8.5) of average annual precipitation.
▪ The modeled historical baseline of maximum 1-day precipitation for Nevada City have a historical 30-year average of approximately 3.327 inches. ▪ Mid-Century projections of maximum 1-day precipitation range between an increase of 0.108 inches (RCP 4.5) to 0.226 inches (RCP 8.5).
▪ End-Century projections of maximum 1-day precipitation range between an increase of 0.229 inches (RCP 4.5) to 0.482 inches (RCP 8.5).
17 15 Sierra Nevada Region Report, California Fourth Climate Change Assessment. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019- 11/Reg_Report-SUM-CCCA4-2018-004_SierraNevada_ADA.pdf (accessed August 2021). 16 Sierra Nevada Region Report, California Fourth Climate Change Assessment. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019- 11/Reg_Report-SUM-CCCA4-2018-004_SierraNevada_ADA.pdf (accessed August 2021). 17 Cal-Adapt Local Climate Change Snapshot. https://cal-adapt.org/tools/local-climate-change-snapshot/ (accessed August 2021).
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Figure 5 Historical and Projected Annual Precipitation
Figure 6 Historical and Projected Maximum 1-Day Precipitation Flooding and Drought
The City will continue to experience local flooding and that the lower Broad Street area has a deficient drainage system to address convergence of Deer and Little Deer creeks. Climate change will increase the likelihood that low-precipitation years will coincide with above-average City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
16 temperature years. Warming temperatures increase seasonal dryness and the likelihood of drought due to decreased supply of moisture and increased atmospheric demand for moisture as evaporation from bare soils and evapotranspiration from plants increases. The increased moisture loss from soils and vegetation amplifies dryness during periods without precipitation. In California’s highly variable climate setting, climate models project less frequent but more extreme daily precipitation, with year-to-year precipitation becoming more volatile and the number of dry years increasing. The warming climate will also contribute to the largest storms, which are responsible for the heaviest precipitation events, carrying more moisture. The winter of 2017 provides a good example of how total precipitation can be dominated by a few highly productive storm events, which are more likely to cause flooding due to the acute increase in storm runoff. 18 Thus, climate
change mediated increases temperature and precipitation variability as described in the previous two sections can lead to both increased incidence and severity of drought and flooding.
In the Sierra Nevada, changes in snowpack, warmer temperatures, and greater evaporation of available moisture will lead to projected decreases in soil moisture of 15 percent to 40 percent below historical norms depending on elevation. Additionally, there will be alterations in runoff seasonality. Earlier snowmelt and higher proportions of precipitation as rain, will allow more runoff to leave the range in winter and spring. Winter runoff increases may stress water storage and stormwater infrastructure that is not built to handle the increased volumes and may increase the magnitude and frequency of floods. These same changes will also lead to a dramatic decline in summer runoff, streamflow, soil moisture, and recharge with subsequent drying impacts on vegetation and consequences for community and state water resources. Though it is necessary to examine individual watersheds, west-slope watersheds and water systems in the northern Sierra are projected to be most vulnerable to decreased mean annual flow. Furthermore, peak streamflow in snow-fed streams has already shifted 10-30 days earlier in the year than in 1948. 19 Wildfire
Nevada City is located in a Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone according to CAL FIRE. Nearly the entire County of Nevada is categorized as either High or Very High (Figure 7). The size and severity of wildfires are expected to increase substantially in the coming decades. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in 2018, reported that the area burned by wildfire in the southwestern United States from 1984 to 2015 was twice what would have burned had climate change not occurred. The effects of climate change create conditions that are conducive to wildfire, particularly increased temperatures which intensify drought, reduce snowpack, cause spring-like temperatures to occur earlier in the year, contribute to windy conditions, and dry forests and vegetation making them more susceptible to burning. These climate conditions combined with accumulated fuel stocks contribute to more intense and extensive wildfires.
20 18 California Fourth Climate Change Assessment Summary Report. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019- 11/Statewide_Reports-SUM-CCCA4-2018-013_Statewide_Summary_Report_ADA.pdf (accessed August 2021). 19 Sierra Nevada Region Report, California Fourth Climate Change Assessment. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019- 11/Reg_Report-SUM-CCCA4-2018-004_SierraNevada_ADA.pdf (accessed: August 2021). 20 Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/downloads/NCA4_Ch25_Southwest_Full.pdf (accessed August 2021).
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Figure 7 Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map
Wildfires in the Sierra Nevada, including the County of Nevada, are becoming larger, more intense, and moving across a greater range of elevations. The frequency, severity and impacts of wildfire are sensitive to climate change as well as other factors, including development patterns, wind patterns, and pest infestations. To project changes in wildfire risk, Cal-Adapt references modeling produced by Dr. Westerling at the University of California Merced. 21 The models predict that wildfire risk will
increase across the entire Sierra Nevada range over the twenty-first century, with a wildfire season that starts earlier, runs longer, and features more extreme fire events (Figure 8 and Figure 9).
Projections using the Cal-Adapt tool suggest that regionally, overall burned area is expected to increase approximately 23 percent (RCP 4.5) to 59 percent (RCP 8.5) by mid-century and 163 percent (RCP 4.5) to 300 percent (RCP 8.5) by the end of the century. 21 Dr. Westerling developed a statistical model based on historical data of climate, vegetation, population density, and large (>400 ha) fire history coupled with regionally downscaled LOCA climate projections to predict localized changes in wildfire risk associated with climate change across California.
City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
18 Figure 8 Change in Wildfire Risk (Medium-Emissions Scenario, RCP 4.5) Figure 9 Change in Wildfire Risk (High-Emissions Scenario, RCP 8.5) Climate change induced wildfire risk to the City was evaluated using decadal wildfire risk, which is defined as the expected probability of a wildfire occurring in and around the City over a 10-year period. As a baseline, the probability of a wildfire in Nevada City over any historical 10-year period is modeled to be 10 percent to 20 percent. By the mid-century mark, the decadal wildfire probability will increase to 20 percent to 30 percent. Decadal probability is predicted to increase through the end of the century.22
Figure 10 Estimated Decadal Fire Probability for Nevada City RCP 4.5 22 https://cal-adapt.org/tools/wildfire/
2020 2050
0 2020
2090
0 2020
2020 2050
0 2020
2090
0 2020
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Figure 11 Estimated Decadal Fire Probability for Nevada City RCP 8.5 City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
20 3 Sensitivity
Communities will be affected by climate change to varying degrees depending on how sensitive they are to climate impacts and the severity of those impacts. Virtually all people and assets in a community will be affected by climate change in some way, but it is not usually feasible to assess the vulnerability of every population group or every asset in the community. The sensitivity of a community depends on the aspects of the community (i.e., specific populations and assets) most affected by anticipated climate impacts and how prevalent they are in the community. The points of sensitivity, or potentially affected community resources, identified for climate exposures are grouped as follows:
Populations
Community Structures and Infrastructure
Parks and Open Space
Services
3.1 Populations
The following population groups may be disproportionally harmed by the impacts of climate change in Nevada City. Population demographics are determined using the California Healthy Places Index (HPI) and United States Census Bureau unless otherwise noted. ▪ Seniors. About 26 percent of the Nevada City Population is 65 and older, with a median age of 53 years old, which is above average compared to other California cities. Older residents can have mobility challenges, challenges living independently, are more likely to live on a fixedincome, and experience health conditions which make them more vulnerable to climate hazards and less equipped to respond effectively when an extreme weather event occurs. ▪ Economically Disadvantaged. As of 2021, the median household income in Nevada City is approximately $42,000, which is below the median for California cities and the state average.
The employment rate in the City is 5 percent which is lower than the average in California (7.6 percent). Currently, 21.8 percent of people living in Nevada City are experiencing poverty, which is higher than the California average. The Nevada County 2019 Point in Time count of people experiencing homelessness identified an increase in the county’s homeless population. Without stable employment or adequate income residents may struggle to afford necessities such as health care, quality housing, healthy food, reliable transportation, and other basics. Access to reliable transportation, quality housing, and health care can impact vulnerability to climate hazards such as extreme heat, reduced air quality, and ability to evacuate during emergencies.
Vulnerability to climate hazards is mitigated by socioeconomic conditions, for example those in poverty may not have the financial means to purchase fire or disaster related insurance, harden homes against fire, make other adaptive home improvements, or rebuild after disasters. Those Sensitivity
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 21
living in poverty or without shelter are particularly vulnerable to climate hazards such as extreme heat, severe weather events, and low air quality. ▪ Individuals with Disabilities. Any kind of disability can present challenges in adapting to climate change and related conditions. Mobility disabilities may also make evacuation during disasters more difficult. Disabilities include mobility challenges, hearing, or vision impairments, cognitive disabilities, and challenges living independently or taking care of oneself. Approximately 11.6 percent of Nevada City residents have a disability, which is higher than the state average. ▪ Renters. Renters make up approximately 46.6 percent of occupied housing units in the City.
Renters have less control over home improvements than homeowners and may not be able to adequately protect themselves from climate hazards by retrofitting their homes. In Nevada City 33 percent of low-income renters pay over 50 percent of their income on housing costs, which is above the average for California. This cost burden places financial stress on households, which makes it more difficult to effectively manage risk. For example, low-income renters may not be able to use air conditioning during extreme heat events. ▪ Visitors and Seasonal Residents. Due to the thriving tourism economy in Nevada City, the population can swell by five times on weekends23 and during the warmer months of the year as visitors and seasonal workers take residence in the City. The City has a transitory population of at least 10,000 people.
24 This influx of people can strain local infrastructure and increase water usage and peak load demand during a fire or drought. Additionally, many of these transient residents will arrive by car, increasing the number of vehicles using designated and undesignated routes during an evacuation. Visitors, and to a lesser extent, seasonal residents, may not be familiar with the local emergency protocols, warning siren, or evacuation routes. It is also less likely for visitors and seasonal residents to be registered for local emergency notifications. These factors may contribute to increased vulnerability to climate hazards.
3.2 Community Structures and Infrastructure
A population’s vulnerability increases exponentially when critical infrastructure is not designed, operated, and/or maintained to function effectively or can be damaged by extreme weather conditions. Health risks may arise due to damaged infrastructure, which may further stem from the loss of access to electricity, impacts to sanitation, safe food, water supplies, health care, communication, and transportation. To help reduce adverse effects on vulnerable populations and increase adaptive capacity, strategies and policies must be identified regarding weak infrastructure, ensuring a high standard of condition and performance on infrastructure systems and overall disaster mitigation and preparedness.
Essential facilities such as hospitals and other medical facilities, police and fire stations, emergency operations centers, evacuation shelters, and schools are critical to the health and welfare of the population of Nevada City and are especially important during and following climate-influenced hazard events. The following community structures within Nevada City would be particularly sensitive to climate change:
23 Nevada City Official Website. Drought, Water Shortages & Water Conservation Page. https://www.nevadacityca.gov/pview.aspx?id=20801&catid=0 (accessed August 2021). 24Nevada City Sphere of Influence Plan 2020. https://www.mynevadacounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/36361/NC-Sphere-Update2020-version-2-Web-Version (accessed August 2021).
City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
22 ▪ Municipal Buildings. City Hall, City Yard, water and wastewater treatment plants, park and recreation facilities including Veteran’s Hall, Seaman’s Lodge, and Bandshell amphitheater. ▪ Educational and Childcare Facilities. The Nevada City School District serves 1,300 students from K-8 at three locations including: Deer Creek Elementary, Seven Hills Middle School, and the Nevada City School District Office. Additionally, there are private childcare and educational facilities within the city including Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning, Iron and Pine Preschool, Forest Charter School, Sunshine Preschool & Kindergarten, John Muir Charter Schools, Twin Ridges Home Study Charter, and Nevada City Head Start. ▪ Historic Buildings and Downtown. The entire downtown business district, comprised of approximately 93 buildings, is a registered historic district. In the mid-nineteenth century, there were numerous fires that destroyed significant parts of the downtown district. In the twentieth century, there have been few fires in the downtown district although there was a significant commercial fire in 2003.
25 Many of these buildings are unreinforced masonry, and all were built prior to the implementation of contemporary building standards for seismic activity, fire, and other hazard related building codes. Given the economic, aesthetic, and cultural significance of the historic buildings to the City, a losses or damages due to uncontained spread of wildland fire, severe weather events, or storm flooding around creeks that transect the downtown, would constitute a severe loss to the City. Given the age and nature of historic buildings, structural losses or damages may represent permanent or irrecoverable harm to this asset and the fabric of the City.
▪ Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Development. Residential development accounts for 72 percent of the City’s land area and commercial development accounts for 8 percent. Many of the City’s residential and commercial structures predate recent seismic and fire safety standards. The cost of upgrading these facilities in most cases is cost prohibitive. The building permit process is also a key instrument in the systematic upgrade of buildings and other improvements but can only address those facilities whose owners are considering certain types of upgrades. The small parcel developments in the City core and surrounding neighborhoods feature higher density and/or less space between buildings, which can result in greater risk of fire damage and loss in the event of a fire due to spread of fire between buildings and an inability to create adequate perimeters of defensible space around each building or cluster of buildings. The low density and rural residential lands offer the benefit of ample space around and between structures, but this space must be maintained by private citizens who may only conduct sporadic brush clearance. There is very little industrial development within the City. The primary industrial developments include truck yards located at Gold Flat, a timber mill along Gracie Road southeast of the city, and several locations more closely aligned with “heavy commercial” uses than traditional industrial, such as welding and machine shops, auto services garages, and the like. Industrial developments may contain flammable materials that could increase fuel load or accelerate fires affecting these sites. ▪ Roadways and Transportation Facilities. Roadways and transportation facilities such as bridges, tunnels, roadbeds, overpasses, transfer centers, and railways may be threatened by the impacts of climate change. Transportation infrastructure is vulnerable to climate hazards as both a function of direct exposure of physical infrastructure to the hazards, as well as increased use during hazard responses for evacuation and emergency vehicles and supplies.26 Transportation 25 Nevada City Annex to the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for Nevada County. October 1, 2013. https://www.mynevadacounty.com/ DocumentCenter/View/15716/2013-Nevada-City-Annex-FEMA-Approved-PDF (accessed September 2021). 26 Ready Nevada County Extreme Climate Event Mobility and Adaptation Plan. 2021 Sensitivity
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 23
infrastructure is important for the movement of people throughout Nevada County. Transit services in western Nevada County are provided through a Joint Powers Agreement executed between Nevada County, the City of Grass Valley, and Nevada City. Nevada County Transit Services operates and manages a fixed route bus system serving Grass Valley and Nevada City, Nevada County Connects, in addition to Gold Country LIFT, which is a demand response paratransit service for residents with disabilities.
3.3 Parks and Open Space
The following open spaces may be vulnerable to climate change impacts. Parks and open spaces are directly exposed to climate changes. Variations in precipitation can stress vegetation, increased temperatures and drought may lead to vegetation drying out due to increased evapotranspiration, and soil moisture reductions, and prolonged drought may increase vegetation mortality. These changes can increase risk of wildfire. Increased intensity of storms can result in increased risk of temporary flooding, soil saturation, and slope instability:
▪ Parks. Calanan Park, Pioneer Park, Robinson Plaza
▪ Open Space. The City owns and maintains over 300 acres of open space including Hirschman’s Pond, Indian Trails, Old Airport, Deer Creek Environs, Sugarloaf, Penzance Park, Nevada Mine, Clampers Square, Washington Street.
▪ Surrounding Lands and National Forests. While not in the jurisdiction of the City, surrounding Bureau of Land Management holdings, and other forested lands contribute to the aesthetic qualities and tourism economy of Nevada City and will be affected by climate change hazards.
Nearby national forests include Tahoe National Forest and Eldorado National Forest.
3.4 Services
Descriptions of municipal services were drawn from the Nevada City Sphere of Influence Plan adopted in 2020, unless otherwise noted. The following services may be impacted by climate change:
▪ Water Services. The water system that serves the City includes a conventional water treatment plant, three water storage tanks, and approximately 17 miles of distribution pipeline. Water service is provided by the City and NID within the City limits in four service areas. The City serves 1,350 connections, while the NID service area includes 600 connections to the west and south of the city center. The Nevada City portion is served by water from Little Deer Creek and NID’s D.S.
Canal.
▪ Wastewater Services. The City provides wastewater collection, treatment and disposal services throughout the City’s 2.2 square mile footprint. The wastewater collection system consists of 20 miles of trunk lines, four lift stations (private), one outflow line, and approximately six flow meters. Additionally, there are many miles of sewer collection lateral lines. The City’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is located just south of the downtown area along Deer Creek. Future heavy rains and increased runoff and flooding due to climate change may push the limits of the WWTP capacity and impact wastewater services. ▪ Power. Power services in Nevada City include electricity and natural gas delivered through above and below ground utility lines from PG&E. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPSs) due to City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
24 high-risk conditions for fire are likely to increase in the future as climate change increases temperatures, droughts, and vegetative drying.
▪ Fire and Emergency Services. Fire protection and emergency services in the Nevada City/Grass Valley area are provided by each city’s fire department and the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District. The two cities and the District provide structural fire protection services while CAL FIRE is responsible for wildland fire protection and prevention in the areas surrounding the City, including the lands within the sphere of influence. Public safety facilities include Fire Station 5 (aka. Providence Mine Road Fire Station), Nevada City Police Department (located in City Hall).
The Fire Department responds to approximately 1,000 calls for service each year with half of the calls coming from outside the City’s boundaries but within the Joint Operations Area. The City has automatic aid agreements with Grass Valley Fire Department (NCFD) and Nevada County Consolidated Fire Department (NCCFD). The City maintains mutual aid agreements with all other local fire organizations, and is part of the regional Joint Operational Area agreement with GVFD and NCCFD, which ensures that the closest available resources are dispatched to calls, regardless of agency boundaries. The increasing frequency, severity, and extent of wildfires will likely strain fire and emergency services to the extent of their capacity.
Potential Impacts
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 25
4 Potential Impacts
Climate change impacts are expected to increase stress on vulnerable populations and assets. In Nevada City, the most likely primary impacts of climate change include increasing temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased risk of wildfires. The potential impacts of these climate hazards to populations, community structures and infrastructure, parks and open space, and services are assessed below.
4.1 Increased Temperature and Extreme Heat
Table 2 Potential Impacts from Increased Temperature
Sensitivity
Type Sensitivity Impact Description
Seniors Impacts include heat stress and death. Seniors who live alone or are socially isolated may not have the information or resources to cope with extreme heat. Those with mobility challenges may be less able to secure their essentials, like food and medicine. Those with chronic health issues may be more susceptible to illness or death.
27 Seniors are more likely to require
assistance during extreme weather events and disasters. Mobility and health challenges may also prevent them from seeking shelter at cooling centers or airconditioned locations outside the home.
28 Economically
Disadvantaged
Economically disadvantaged individuals, including those with low incomes, are unemployed, or are underemployed, are more likely to be exposed to heat stress. Those who rely on public transportation, cannot afford to own or run air conditioning, and/or cannot afford quality health care are also at elevated risk. Under these conditions, heat stress and impaired mobility are more likely to create financial hardship and negative health impacts. Lower incomes can also hamper individuals’ ability to retrofit their home to improve insulation, install and run air conditioning, and access quality health care, which makes them more likely to suffer from heat stress.
Individuals with
Disabilities
Individuals living with disabilities are at higher risk of heat-related illness than the general population, particularly if they have reduced mobility or cognitive abilities. This may result in reduced mobility and the need for additional assistance in order to avoid heat-related health risks.
Renters Renters have less control over home improvements than homeowners and may not be able to adequately protect themselves by installing air conditioning, window films, or other home improvements. As a result, their residences may not be as well-equipped as homeowners to protect them from heat-related health risks.
Visitors and Seasonal
Residents
Visitors and seasonal residents are also likely to have less control over adaptive improvements to their shelter if they are renting. Weekend and short-term visitors may spend more time outside and have limited options for indoor shelter, which can increase risk of heat stress. 27 Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 2017. Heat and Older Adults. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/older-adults-heat.html (accessed August 2021).
28 Heat Related Illness, Picture of America Report. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/pictureofamerica/pdfs/picture_of_america_heat-related_illness.pdf City of Nevada City
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26 Sensitivity
Type Sensitivity Impact Description
Municipal Buildings Extreme heat events may stress cooling systems. Power outages are also a risk, which can impair the City’s ability to provide essential services if sufficient backup systems are not in place.
Medical Facilities Minimal direct impacts expected. Medical facilities are likely to see an increase in the volume of patients suffering from heat stress, cardiovascular illness, and asthma during extreme heat events. Buildings with air conditioning will have an increase in cooling costs.
Educational and
Childcare Facilities
Extreme heat events may stress cooling systems. Power outages are also a risk, which can impair the ability of education and childcare providers to serve the public. This in turn, could cause financial hardship for households that rely on these services. There could also be an increase in cooling costs.
Historic Buildings and
Downtown
Extreme heat events may stress cooling systems if they exist. Power outages are also a risk, which could cause financial hardship for businesses.
Businesses may receive less customers and income during extreme heat events. There could also be an increase in cooling costs.
Residential,
Commercial, and
Industrial
Development
Extreme heat events may stress cooling systems if they exist. Power outages are also a risk, which could cause financial hardship for businesses.
Businesses may receive less customers and income during extreme heat events. There could also be an increase in cooling costs.
Roadways and
Transportation
Facilities
Impacts on transportation infrastructure from warming include softening or buckling of road pavement and deterioration of concrete structures, which compromises roadway integrity during heat waves or generally reduces their useful lifetimes.
Parks Increased temperatures are likely to result in impacts to vegetation related to heat stress. Indirect impacts could include increased watering and related costs. Extreme heat can cause shifts in physiology of flora and fauna, with variable outcomes. Vegetation is more likely to experience heat stress and drying, species’ habitat ranges may shift, some pests such as bark beetles may proliferate more easily with warmer temperatures, and some plants and animals ill-suited to the new warmer conditions may suffer increased mortality rates. Increasing temperatures may also cause wildlife to move to more habitable areas.
Open Space
Surrounding Lands and
National Forests
Water and Wastewater
Services
Minimal direct impacts expected. High temperatures could increase demand for water.
Energy Delivery Extreme heat can cause power lines to sag which can create fire hazards if the sagging causes lines to drop below the clearance height and come into contact with trees. Overheating may also gradually damage the conductive and structural stability of power lines making them less efficient and more vulnerable to damage from cold weather conditions. Indirect impacts to electrical utility lines could occur from increased use of the system from running air conditioners, leading to power outages in the City. Long periods of intense heat may result in increased use of electricity for home cooling purposes that could tax the overall electrical system and result in electricity restrictions or blackouts. Electrical outages would have wide-ranging impacts to all community structures, particularly to those without redundant power systems (e.g., generators).
Fire and Emergency
Services
Police and fire departments may have to respond to an increased volume of welfare checks, and medical assistance calls. Increased temperature and extreme heat exposure may increase risk to public safety personnel if they are working outside or responding to calls in extreme heat conditions.
Potential Impacts
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 27
4.2 Variable Precipitation
As described in the Exposure section of this assessment, climate change is expected to increase the likelihood that Nevada City experiences substantial impacts from:
▪ Increasing storm intensity
▪ Storm flooding
▪ Extended drought
Table 3 below describes potential precipitation impacts to the identified sensitivities in Nevada City.
Table 3 Potential Impacts from Precipitation
Sensitivity
Type Sensitivity Impact Description
Seniors The most likely impacts are property damage. Seniors on a fixed income may be exposed to more severe damages from deferred maintenance and upkeep. There is also a risk of injury or death from falling debris/storm damage. Seniors can face financial hardship in repairing property damage, reduced mobility following a storm, or impaired living conditions if property is damaged.
Economically Disadvantaged The most likely impacts can include reduced mobility, financial hardship, and impaired living conditions. Property may be more susceptible to damage because of deferred maintenance and upkeep. Financial hardship in repairing property damage.
Impaired living conditions if property is damaged and repairs are unaffordable. Those that rely on public or active
transportation are at risk of reduced mobility following a major storm.
Individuals with Disabilities The most likely impacts can include reduced mobility, financial hardship, and impaired living conditions. Individuals with mobility challenges, cognitive disabilities, and those with financial hardships are at increased risk. There can be increased potential for injury or death from falling debris/storm damage.
They can face financial hardship in repairing property damage or impaired living conditions if property is damaged.
Renters Property may be more susceptible to damage in the case of deferred maintenance and upkeep. Dependency on property owner to repair property damage. Impaired living conditions if property is damaged and repairs are deferred or insufficient.
Visitors and Seasonal Residents The most likely impacts are injury or death from falling debris/storm damage and reduced mobility. Visitors have reduced access to emergency communication systems and
networks and are less familiar with local conditions and surroundings.
City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
28 Sensitivity
Type Sensitivity Impact Description
Municipal Buildings Damage to structures from falling debris/storm damage. Areas on and near slopes could be affected by landslides and
mudslides caused by heavy precipitation events. Inability to provide critical and essential services to residents.
Medical Facilities
Educational and Childcare Facilities
Public Safety Infrastructure
Historic Buildings and Downtown
Residential, Commercial, and
Industrial Development
Roadways and Transportation
Facilities
Erosion, washouts, sinkholes, and other forms of damage associated with heavy rains. Secondary hazards could include landslides or mudflows associated with substantial and/or consecutive heavy precipitation events. Damage to public transit infrastructure and facilities could inhibit or compromise public transit options. Potential local economic losses associated with loss of mobility.
Storm Drainage System Stormwater drainage systems may become overburdened by increases in runoff, particularly during highly productive storms, causing flooding and potentially damaging this infrastructure.
Parks Increasing variability in precipitation may stress vegetation, increase water demand and watering costs for plant
maintenance. Prolonged dry periods and droughts will
contribute to vegetal drying, increased susceptibility to pests, and increased plant mortality. Loss of forest due to tree mortality leads to changes in overall yield of streamflow and groundwater, to erosion during precipitation events, and to altered water quality. Severe storms can damage and down trees.
Open Space
Surrounding Lands and National
Forests
Water and Wastewater Services Flooding may disrupt or damage water supply infrastructure in addition to flooding and damage, transmission lines,
wastewater treatment facilities, culverts, and canals are likely to be challenged, with associated service and business
interruptions, releases of untreated wastewater, and structural damages. Drought will affect the City’s ability to source surface water from the local watershed and will cause the City to rely further on purchasing water from Nevada Irrigation District. NID will likely face challenges in sourcing water during prolonged droughts, and mandatory water restrictions may be
implemented by one or both utilities during such periods.
Energy Delivery Increased flooding may impact electrical substations or natural gas transmission pipelines. Landslides triggered by heavy precipitation events could impact above-ground electrical utility lines. More intense storms could adversely affect electricity delivery from power outages caused by downed electrical utility lines from wind or landslide events.
Fire and Emergency Services As dry spells grow longer, frequencies and risks of forest fires, with attendant transportation disruptions and infrastructure damage, will increase in many parts of the Sierra Nevada region.
Emergency response systems could be impacted from flooding or landslides within or outside of city limits, which could restrict the ability for emergency response to access the city and impact response times.
Potential Impacts
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 29
4.3 Wildfire
As described in the Exposure section of this assessment, climate change is expected to increase the likelihood that Nevada City experiences substantial wildfire impacts. Table 34 below describes potential wildfire impacts to the identified sensitivities in Nevada City.
Table 4 Potential Impacts from Wildfire
Sensitivity
Type Sensitivity Impact Description
Seniors Older adults are almost three times more likely to die in a fire than the overall population.29 Because they typically have increased mobility issues or mental health issues, older adults, especially if living alone, have more difficulties evacuating to safe areas when needed. Decreased air quality from wildfire will also impact older adults who generally have lower lung function than younger adults. Air quality health emergencies from nearby fires can also cause harm to seniors, particularly those with chronic health conditions. Those on a fixed income may be less equipped to maintain sufficient air quality at home.
Economically
Disadvantaged
Unemployed, and low-income individuals may lack adequate financial resources to retrofit their homes to better resist climate-related hazards such as wildfires, or to afford fire insurance or private firefighting services. They are more likely to live in denser housing with smaller lots in closer proximity to other buildings, such as in mobile home parks, which may lead to increased spread of fire between structures. These factors may all contribute to a greater likelihood of damage or loss of structures during fires, and potential displacement if buildings are lost. Air quality health emergencies from nearby fires can also cause harm to low-income households, particularly those with chronic health conditions, with inadequate health care. They also may be less equipped to maintain sufficient air quality at home.
Individuals with
Disabilities
Those with mobility issues may have difficulties evacuating to safe areas, and decreased air quality may critically impact individuals with respiratory conditions. Air quality health emergencies from nearby fires can also cause harm to individuals with disabilities, particularly those with chronic health conditions. Financial hardship may also result in reduced ability to maintain sufficient air quality at home.
Renters Renters are less likely to retrofit their homes or conduct regular brush clearing around residences to better resist climate-related hazards such as wildfires.
Renters may be displaced if buildings are lost. Air quality health emergencies from nearby fires can also cause harm to renters. They may be less financially able to maintain sufficient air quality at home.
Visitors and Seasonal
Residents
Visitors may not have access to emergency public health warnings and may not know where to get emergency evacuation information in the event of a wildfire. Additionally, wildfire may deter visitors, impacting Nevada City’s economy. Air quality health emergencies from nearby fires can also reduce tourism in the City. Visitors are less likely to come or seek temporary employment.
29 United States Fire Administration (USFA). 2015. Fire Safety Outreach Materials for Older Adults. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/older_adults.html#:~:text=Older%20adults%20face%20the%20greatest%20relative%20 risk%20of%20dying%20in%20a%20fire.&text=Had%20a%202.7%20times%20greater,fire%20than%20the%20total%20population (accessed July 7, 2021).
City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
30 Sensitivity
Type Sensitivity Impact Description
Municipal Buildings The entire city of Nevada City is located in the VHFHSZ and is characterized as being within the wildland urban interface (WUI). As wildland fires increase in frequency, extent, and intensity due to climate change the risk to all structures in the city will increase. Additional efforts for vegetation clearance, fire break projects, code compliance and fire response will carry financial costs. Loss of any structures will create challenges for the community. Evacuations of residents and visitors may become more common, which can cause distress, traffic jams, and short-term harm to the economy. The historic downtown, though featuring many buildings utilizing unreinforced masonry, is a major driving force of Nevada City’s economy, as well as the main commercial hub in the City. Damage or loss of historic structures would likely impact tourism and the harm local economy long term. Air-quality emergencies can also harm tourism. Personnel that work in the field may face increased health risk during air quality emergencies.
Medical Facilities
Educational and
Childcare Facilities
Public Safety
Infrastructure
Historic Buildings and
Downtown
Residential,
Commercial, and
Industrial
Development
Roadways and
Transportation
Facilities
Wildfire is the predominant risk under climate change to the local transportation-fuel sector (highways and pipeline infrastructure), due to a combination of direct exposure of the structures to flames, impacts on supporting facilities and agents, and increased competition for help from the state’s emergency management systems. Wildfires result in closure or the inability to travel on roads during wildfire events, which can isolate areas of the City and create severe health and safety risks.
Storm Drainage
System
Green infrastructure associated with the City’s storm drain system may be damaged or destroyed by wildfire.
Parks Community parks in the City may be at risk of increased wildfires caused by climate change. Open space in Nevada City is susceptible to wildfire since it contains highly flammable vegetation. Wildfire will likely impact surrounding state and federal forested lands, and altering the biodiversity of habitats located in the forest. This in turn may affect Nevada City’s risk of wildfire, the aesthetic of the town, the number of visitors attracted by the natural surroundings and scenic byways, and the City’s economy. The entire area around Nevada City is located in the VHFHSZ. Personnel that work in the field may face increased health risk during air-quality emergencies.
Open Space
Surrounding Lands
and National Forests
Water and
Wastewater Services
Water systems could be directly affected by wildfires in addition to indirect impacts from water use from firefighting activities and peak load water supply.
Water quality may be adversely affected during the burning of a wildfire and for years after. Ash and contaminants associated with ash settle in streams, lakes, and reservoirs and vegetation that holds soil in place and retains water can be burned away (EPA 2019). Water and wastewater infrastructure and facilities, including treatment plants, pump stations, and reservoirs may be damaged or destroyed by fire. Personnel that work in the field may face increased health risk during air-quality emergencies.
Energy Delivery Above-ground electrical lines are at risk from wildfires and damage to these lines could affect electricity service for residents and critical facilities not equipped with backup generators. Electrical poles that are made of wood will also suffer from increasing wildfire risk. During high wildfire risk conditions, the public utility may shut off power with a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), affecting residents without backup sources of energy. Personnel that work in the field may face increased health risk during air-quality emergencies.
Fire and Emergency
Services
Public safety services will likely be strained during wildfire events. Coordinating agencies will likely be similarly strained as fire seasons grow longer and the intensity and extent of fires increases with climate change. Personnel that work in the field may face increased health risk during air-quality emergencies.
Potential Impacts
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 31
4.4 Compounding Risks
Climate change has a variety of impacts, such as those discussed above, that interact with a variety of existing conditions for any given location. The combination of multiple drivers can increase the risk for new or more amplified hazard events and conditions. Compounding risks can include: (a) extremes that occur simultaneously or successively, (b) extremes combined with background conditions that amplify their overall impact, or (c) extremes that result from combinations of average events. In the subsections below are brief discussions of compound events for which risk is increased due to increasing temperatures, variable precipitation, and increasing frequency and extent of wildfires.
4.4.1 Landslides and Mudflows
Landslide and mudflow risk is associated with factors such as steep topography, and soil and slope stability, which are influenced by soil type and saturation, vegetative cover, and past mining activity.
Given the history of hydraulic mining, extensive networks of mining tunnels, and generally poor soil stability in the areas surrounding Nevada City, there is already an elevated and ongoing risk of landslides.
30 Climate change may compound risk in at least three possible ways. First, the risk of landslides and mudslides is known to increase after wildfires. Secondly, both landslides and mudslides are often triggered by large, intense winter storms, which can oversaturate the ground and cause fast-moving debris flows. Thirdly, drought conditions can reduce soil stability if vegetation is not anchoring the soil as effectively. Climate change will continue to increase the occurrence of wildfire in Nevada County and is projected to increase the intensity of precipitation events throughout the region. There is also the potential for multi-year droughts to continue affecting the areas. Thus, it is likely that there will be an increase in landslides or mudflows, particularly for highrisk areas that are in recently burned areas, and/or after highly productive storm events such as high-moisture atmospheric river events.
4.4.2 Water Quality
Climate change may impact the Sierra Nevada region’s water quality in many ways, and although the precise impacts are uncertain, consideration of potential impacts is warranted for planning purposes. The California Fourth Climate Change Assessment Regional Report for Sierra Nevada indicates several ways that water quality may be impacted. Surface water may be vulnerable to climate change in the form of alterations of surface-water contaminant concentrations, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. Increased air temperatures generally lead to increased water temperatures in many stream and lake settings, resulting in declines in dissolved oxygen. Reductions of summertime streamflow may lead to seasonal increases in contaminant concentrations and water temperatures. As an example, the community of June Lake uses surface water from the lake as one of its municipal water sources. During the 2012-2016 drought, water levels in June Lake dropped by 20 feet. As the inflows and water levels dropped, uranium entering the lake from natural sources increased in concentration, causing the municipal water supply to exceed drinkingwater limits for uranium, requiring the June Lake water system to implement an additional water treatment step.
31 Wildfires can deposit ash into uncovered reservoirs and canals. Increased extreme 30 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for Nevada County (2011-2016) https://www.mynevadacounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/15423/2017- Nevada-County-Local-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-PDF?bidId= (accessed: August 2021). 31 California Fourth Climate Change Assessment Regional Report, Sierra Nevada. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019- 11/Reg_Report-SUM-CCCA4-2018-004_SierraNevada_ADA.pdf (accessed August 2021).
City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
32 precipitation events lead to greater flooding and erosion, impacting surface water quality and surrounding habitat. There is an extensive history of gold mining in and around Nevada City, with mining related hazards including the presence of mine tailings and residual toxic materials generated and used in the mining process.
32 Increased erosion and runoff during storms may
increase the conveyance of these contaminants into the surface water sources upon which the City relies. Changes in water quality may require additional water monitoring and treatment efforts and can affect the suitability of surface water bodies for recreation and habitat.
4.4.3 Ecosystem Changes
Climate is a distinguishing factor in ecosystem composition, structure, and dynamics. According to the California Fourth Climate Change Assessment Regional Report for Sierra Nevada, even optimistic projections of warming indicate a future with more wildfire, drought stress, and lower carbon storage in the Sierra Nevada. High-elevation forests and old-growth mixed conifer forests are the most vulnerable to projected changes in climate and wildfire. Development pressures combined with warming are likely to result in oak woodland declines, whereas meadows are particularly vulnerable to disruptions of local hydrology. The combination of increased temperature and variable precipitation will impact the forest ecosystems surrounding Nevada City.
Climate variations and changes can directly impact physiological processes in sensitive species.
Observed trends as of 2018 in the distributions of mammals, insects, and birds demonstrate that future range shifts are likely. For example, climate is the dominant factor determining the range of temperate tree species. Tree growth, survival, and reproduction are innately linked to patterns in air temperature and precipitation. Thus, as temperatures increase and precipitation becomes more variable, habitat conditions can shift and change as well. Species near the edge of their range are particularly vulnerable since even small climatic changes can limit their ability to persist. Climate driven shifts in species distributions will disrupt many natural communities, yielding new assemblages with unknown and challenging ecological interactions. For example, drought compounded by increased temperatures contributed to the susceptibility of trees to beetle infestation which has been widespread across the Sierra Nevada. The tree mortality caused by drought, heat, and infestation then increases the likelihood of forest stand altering wildfires.
Vulnerability to climate change is widespread among wildlife but old-growth forest species are likely the most sensitive.
33 32 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for Nevada County (2011-2016) https://www.mynevadacounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/15423/2017- Nevada-County-Local-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-PDF?bidId= (accessed August 2021). 33 California Fourth Climate Change Assessment Regional Report, Sierra Nevada. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019- 11/Reg_Report-SUM-CCCA4-2018-004_SierraNevada_ADA.pdf (accessed August 2021).
Adaptive Capacity
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 33
5 Adaptive Capacity
Adaptive capacity is the ability to cope with climate change. Types of adaptive capacity include adjustments in behavior, resources, and technologies (Cal OES 2020). The City has already taken several steps to increase the community’s adaptive capacity, which include encouraging water preservation and conservation, promoting renewable energy and energy conservation, coordinating with regional fire districts, and implementing wildfire mitigation activities within the City. The following section provides an overview of the City’s existing capacity to adapt to climate change.
5.1 State and County Coordination and Assistance
Effective coordination and assistance is a foundational adaptive capacity for the City. The City is vulnerable to climate change, which is taking place at a regional scale. Its ability to adapt requires effective coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and districts. Its ability to adapt can be amplified through the resources provided by county, state, and federal agencies.
Nevada City works with numerous agencies in the provision of public health and safety services that contribute to risk mitigation, hazard preparedness, and response services. Actors include federal and state agencies, county departments, public safety departments from nearby jurisdictions and regional organizations. Nevada County is the most common source of assistance for, and partner in, coordinated planning efforts with Nevada City. The County provides health and welfare programs, law enforcement services and jail operation, public transportation services, emergency planning and services, and maintenance of county roads. Descriptions of the organizations and coordination efforts are included below. Error! Reference source not found. lists planning documents, programs, and resources that compliment those of Nevada City and contribute to the adaptive capacity of the City and surrounding areas. Nevada City, with a population of about 3,200, equivalent to approximately three percent of the County’s population, has limited resources to fully address public safety issues, and relies on its regional partners to address more regional public safety concerns.
Coordinating Entities:
Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES) is responsible for coordinating with County departments, municipalities, key stakeholders, and special districts to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all disasters. OES designs and conducts simulated disaster response exercises, evaluates emergency staff training, creates evacuation strategies, and maintains the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in a state of readiness. OES also educates the community on preparedness, facilitates stakeholder collaboration, and seeks additional funding through grants and strategic partnerships. OES manages the Nevada County Government's response to and recovery from a disaster and provides support to any city, town, or special district responding to and recovering from a disaster. These services are relevant for all climate related hazards.
Nevada County Department of Public Works, Road Maintenance Division maintains 562 miles of public roadways along with numerous bridges and drainage facilities throughout the county, including signs, vegetation management, and storm response. The Road Maintenance Division is responsible for protecting, repairing and maintaining Nevada County's road system infrastructure, which includes, but not limited to, snow removal, storm damage response, vegetation management, City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
34 drainage and shoulder maintenance, bridge maintenance and surface preservation. While Nevada City owns and maintains some roads in the City footprint, the county maintains numerous roads within the City’s sphere of influence, as well as evacuation routes and arterials connecting the City to the regional transportation network. These services are relevant to increased temperatures, increased wildfire risk, and severe weather hazards associated with variable precipitation.
Nevada Irrigation District (NID) is the local water purveyor that provides water in Nevada City in addition to the water that the City provides from Deer Creek. The water NID provides is an essential buffer to water scarcity for Nevada City. Additionally, NID provides ecosystem management services, and maintains water shortage contingency and urban water management plans that contribute to the resilience of the local watersheds.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is responsible for the stewardship of over 31 million acres of California's privately-owned wildlands, preventing wildfires in the State Responsibility Area (SRA), and providing emergency services with counties and local jurisdictions as contracted. CAL FIRE has adapted to the evolving regimes of destructive wildfires and has significantly increased its efforts in fire prevention. The Department's Fire Prevention Program consists of multiple activities including wildland pre-fire engineering, vegetation management, fire planning, education and law enforcement. Typical fire prevention projects include brush clearance, prescribed fire, defensible space inspections, emergency evacuation planning, fire prevention education, fire hazard severity mapping, and fire-related law enforcement activities.
Nevada County Consolidated Fire District (NCCFD) represents the consolidation of five separate fire districts in western Nevada County into one full-service emergency response agency and full-time paid staff department. The NCCFD covers 143 square miles of residential, commercial, industrial, and rural areas, through five service areas and 10 stations. NCCFD provides “closest-resource” response assistance to Grass Valley, Nevada City, and nearby SRAs.
Grass Valley Fire Department (GVFD) provides emergency response services for more than 12,000 permanent residents, a daytime population of 20,000, and responds to more than 4,500 calls for service per year. The GVFD is a part of the Nevada County JOA (Joint Operational Area) which is comprised of the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, the City of Nevada City Fire Department, and the City of Grass Valley Fire Department. The agencies work and train together and many of the engines within the JOA are outfitted with similar equipment to allow for a smooth interagency operation.
Nevada County Fire Safe Council (NCFSC) The Fire Safe Council is a non-profit, local volunteer organization dedicated to making Nevada County safer from catastrophic wildfire through fire safety projects and education. The NCFSC has numerous programs that help residents in wildfire prevention, preparation, and resilience work on their property. Programs include Low-Cost Defensible Space Clearing Services, a Chipping Program, Access & Functional Needs the (AFN) Defensible Space Clearing program, Defensible Space Advisory Visits (DSAV), and the Address Signs programs. In addition to this the NCFSC contributes expertise to local planning efforts, participates in special programs, and hosts fire mitigation challenges such as the Scotch Broom Removal Challenge.
Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities is an all-volunteer organization (no staff, no dues and no budget) which works with, but is not related to, the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County.
Collectively, this group consists of representatives and residents of about 100 Firewise Communities (FWC) located in Nevada County, which includes more than 60 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-certified FWCs and the rest are in the process of being certified. Each FWC works within Adaptive Capacity
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 35
their neighborhood to share ideas and information, promote safe practices, and to amplify the county-wide effort to educate residents on wildfire preparedness. Coalition members also act as advocates for better fire-safe practices and policies.
Additional Coordination: Nevada County coordinates with additional entities for purposes of funding, planning, and programming which benefits Nevada City. Additional details regarding the roles and responsibilities of the county and county departments, local jurisdictions and agencies, state, and federal assistance in the event of an emergency wherein the county leads the coordinated response effort can be found in the Nevada County and Nevada Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan,
34 Sections 7.0 – 10.0.
Table 5 Coordinated Planning Documents & Agreements
Document
Most
Recent
Revision
Climate Change
Impact
Update
Cycle Responsible Entity
Nevada County Safety Element
Update
2019 Multi-hazard 5 years Nevada County Planning
Department
Ready Nevada County Extreme
Climate Event Mobility and
Adaptation Plan
In Progress
(2022)
Multi-hazard Nevada County Transportation
Commission
Nevada County Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (2017-2022)
2017 Multi-hazard 5 Years Nevada County OES
Nevada County and Nevada
Operational Area Emergency
Operations Plan (EOP) aka
“Disaster Plan”
2011 Multi-hazard 3 Years Nevada County OES
Nevada County Contingency Plan
for Excessive Heat Emergencies.
2017 Extreme Heat Reviewed
Annually
Nevada County OES
Nevada County Community
Wildfire Protection Plan
2016 Wildfire Nevada County OES
Nevada County Wildfire
Preparedness Action Plan
2019 Wildfire Nevada County OES
Nevada County Wildfire
Evacuation Preparedness Action
Plan
2020 Wildfire Nevada County OES
Nevada Irrigation District (NID)
Drought Contingency Plan and
Urban Water Management Plan
2021 Drought 5 Years Nevada Irrigation District
Automatic Aid Agreement 2018 Wildfire CAL FIRE,
Nevada County Consolidated Fire
District (NCCFD),
Nevada City Fire Department
(NCFD),
Grass Valley Fire Department
Nevada County Joint Operational
Area and Joint Operations
Agreement
2014 Wildfire NCCFD, NCFD, Grass Valley Fire
Department
34 Nevada County and Nevada Operational Area EOP. https://www.mynevadacounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/15705/BasicEmergency-Plan-PDF (accessed September 2021).
City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
36 Nevada County Consolidated Fire
District (NCCFD) Strategic Fire
Plan (2016-2021)
2016 Wildfire 5 Years NCCFD
Temperature Specific Coordination/Planning
The Nevada County Contingency Plan for Excessive Heat Emergencies is a supporting document to the Nevada County Emergency Operations Plan. The plan describes county operations during heat related emergencies and provides guidance for local governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in the preparation of their heat emergency response plans and other related activities. The plan contains a checklist to guide local actions based on the severity of heat emergency as denoted by phases. Specific action steps include coordinating among county and local agencies (all phases), disseminating information (all phases), providing cooling facilities (Phase II and III), directly contacting and monitoring those at risk (Phase II and III), transporting those at risk to cooling facilities (Phase II and II), proclamation of a state of emergency (Phase III). While this plan helps to provide a measure of preparation for and coordination in response to extreme heat events, the Plan does not include specific cooling strategies, or other mitigation actions that might increase the ability of jurisdictions to reduce temperatures or ensure human thermal comfort despite increasing temperatures on a general basis.
Wildfire Specific Coordination/Planning
In 2003, the City of Nevada City entered into an agreement with Nevada County Consolidated Fire District (NCCFD) to each provide three full-time firefighters to the City’s newly built fire station at 201 Providence Mine Road (Station No. 54). The agreement was amended in 2008 to address joint command protocols and reimbursement for training costs. In 2012, the City of Nevada City and City of Grass Valley entered into a separate Joint Operations Agreement (JOA). In February 2014, a broader Joint Operations Agreement was entered into between the City of Nevada City, the City of Grass Valley and NCCFD for the purpose of providing reciprocal fire protection and related services.
In 2018 CAL FIRE, NCCFD, Nevada City Fire Department, Grass Valley Fire Department, entered into an automatic and mutual aid agreement. All participating agencies agreed to provide closestresponse service, so that the appropriate apparatus with the shortest response time would respond to emergencies without having to being requested by the agency with jurisdiction over that area.
This allows for the fastest possible response times, and an increase in aid for state responsibility areas that surround the cities. By providing for faster response and additional resources to help control fires across jurisdictions and in SRAs, the agreement decreases risk across all jurisdictions and helps reduce risk that wildland fire spreads to the WUI and threatens structures within Nevada City and other cities. The agreement also outlines the procedure for requesting additional resources an agency’s resources are depleted, further bolstering emergency response capabilities. The participating agencies conduct regular coordinating training activities at least twice annually.
In 2018, the same year the automatic aid agreement was established, the Nevada City Fire Department and the Grass Valley Fire Department entered into a shared administration pilot program to further streamline fire and emergency response. The two agencies fully merged in 2020 with Nevada City contracting for services through Grass Valley. This has resulted in a single agency with a streamlined chain of command, coordinated emergency response, and more consistent fire mitigation actions across the jurisdictions.
Adaptive Capacity
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 37
Variable Precipitation and Drought Specific Coordination/Planning The NID provides a portion of the water required by Nevada City on an annual basis. This service helps maintain adequate water supplies for the City. As such, NID water management and water shortage contingency planning efforts benefit Nevada City by default. In addition to the provision and management of water supplies and infrastructure, NID actively seeks to increase the resilience of the watershed and in several ways that increase the drought resilience and adaptive capacity of the local hydrological cycle and ecosystem services upon which Nevada City depends. NID partners with different agencies and organizations including CAL FIRE, US Forest Service, and Sierra Conservancy to conduct sustainability projects such as forest thinning, mountain meadow restoration, and fish habitat improvement. Forest thinning and meadow restoration are adaptive strategies recommended by the Fourth California Climate Change Assessment Regional Report for the Sierra Nevada Region that help mitigate wildfire and drought risk by maintaining ecosystem function.
Increasingly large and destructive wildfires threaten forest conditions and the long-term functionality of watersheds. NID conducts forest thinning to reduce ecosystem stressors, such as overly crowded stands and bark beetle transmission, and increases water yield by removing selected trees. Thinning forests reduces evapotranspiration and can lead to the recapture of 5-10 percent of a watershed’s water yield. NID forest projects include fire hazard mitigation and hazard tree removal, forest community improvement, and habitat restoration. NID partners with California State University, Sacramento, experts in meadow restoration, to improve the ecosystems at English Meadow near the upper reaches of the Middle Yuba River and the source of NID’s snowmelt water supply. Meadow restoration helps return lands to a natural floodplain, allowing more water and sediment to remain within the floodplain and aquifer, rather than being carried downstream during peak flow periods in the spring. Enhancing forest and meadow health also helps to mitigate hazard risk from heavy precipitation events by reducing erosion, stabilizing slopes, and reducing the volume and speed of water that moving down the watershed during storms.
5.2 Disaster Planning
The City’s current policies, measures, and programs focus on water conservation, fire protection, and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions. The City has prepared several planning documents that outline protocols, procedures, and operations for effective emergency response to a variety of hazards. Hazards of concern that are not specifically or adequately addressed include increased temperature, air quality reductions especially due to wildfire smoke, and intermittent storm flooding. Moreover, the policies related to drought and wildfire do not consider the possible need for modification of infrastructure as an adaptive strategy and could be expanded to include a range of actions that will increase adaptive capacity. Past and current programs and projects are vulnerable to the availability of funding. It is crucial that the City identify sustainable sources of funding for current and new adaptive strategies, providing for sustained implementation and longterm enhancement of the City’s adaptive capacity.
City Roles, Agencies, Plans, and Past Actions
City Manager is the administrative head of the City, taking on numerous supervisory, advisory, and operational roles in regard to the functioning and affairs of the City. The City Manager is designated to lead emergency operations and appoint key leadership roles in the event of a disaster. The City City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
38 Manager can make proclamations of emergency status which are reviewed and ratified by the City Council.
Nevada City Fire Department and Fire Chief The Nevada City Fire Department provides emergency services to all residents and visitors that come to Nevada City on a daily basis. Emergency response includes structure fires, emergency medical incidents, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, automobile fires and wildland fires. The Nevada City Fire Department and the Grass Valley Fire Department merged in 2020 with Nevada City contracting for services through Grass Valley. This has resulted in a single agency comprised of a Fire Chief, a Division Chief, a Battalion Chief, seven Fire Captains, 16 Firefighters, two Prevention Officers and a Fire Mechanic. Nevada City Station 5 is located at 201 Providence Mine Road and provides 24-hour, year-round service. The Fire Chief and fire department is responsible for many fire mitigation actions including fire clearing projects, enforcing vegetation removal, and participating in emergency planning and the Nevada City Fire Safety Advisory Committee.
Nevada City Fire Safety Advisory Committee A collaboration between the fire department, City staff, City Council, and Nevada City Firewise Communities. The committee was established in 2020 and consists of seven members: one council member to serve as chairperson, one City staff member, five at-large members of the community (often Nevada City Firewise Communities members). Committee members serve 2-year terms. The purpose of the committee is to coordinate fire mitigation activities between the City, the Fire Departments, and the community.
Nevada City Firewise Communities Firewise Communities (FWCs) raise awareness, organize at the community level, coordinate work parties, and take action to create fire-adapted communities through the implementation of defensible-space standards. In the vicinity of the City, there are nine FWCs, including Cascade Shores, Cement Hill, Greater Champion, Deer Creek Southside, Echo Ridge, Foxwood-Slate Creek, Friends of Banner Mountain, Lak Vera-Round Mountain, and Willow Valley.
Table 6 Nevada City Relevant Planning Documents
Document
Year
Established
Climate Change
Impact
Update
Cycle Responsible Entity
Nevada City Disaster Plan 2011 Multi-hazard As required Nevada City Emergency Management Director,
City Department Heads
Safety Element Update – In Progress 2021 Multi-hazard
Drought Action Plan: A Water
Shortage Contingency Strategy for
the City of Nevada City
2015 Drought 5 Years City Manager, Director
of Public Works, City
Engineer, Water
Treatment Plant
Operator
Zonehaven Wildfire Evacuation Map
and Dashboard
Wildfire Nevada County OES
Additional Plans See Comment
Energy Action Plan 2015 Drought, Climate
Change, Energy
Increased Temperature Preparedness and Response
Nevada City does not currently have plans, protocols, or trainings to address or respond to increased temperature and increased risk of extreme heat beyond those created by Nevada County.
Adaptive Capacity
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 39
Wildfire Preparedness and Response
In 2020 the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-19 establishing the Nevada City Fire Safety Advisory Committee. The Fire Safety Committee meets monthly with the expressed purpose of promoting public fire safety and community involvement to protect Nevada City residents, business owners, visitors and structures from wildfire. The Committee is tasked with establishing objectives to support the creation of an overall comprehensive vegetation management plan for wildfire mitigation plan and healthy forests, identifying funding sources, and promoting public education and awareness. As of September 2021, the City has not adopted a comprehensive Vegetation Management Plan, although other programs and ordinances have been adopted.
The City provides numerous wildfire readiness resources for residents on the City website, including links to the Ready Nevada County Dashboard Zonehaven Evacuation Map. In 2019, the City piloted a Residential Chipping Program, although it appears that current chipping programs are managed at the county level.
In the summer of 2021, the City Manager issued a proclamation that was adopted by the City Council declaring a state of local emergency due to extreme fire danger. This allowed the City to temporarily ban the use of outdoor fires except for barbeques on private property. The conditions warranting emergency status as described in the proclamation are going to become the new baseline conditions for Nevada City in the decades ahead. This emergency measure is a helpful stopgap effort to reduce wildfire risk this wildfire season, but the temporary nature of the action preempts long-term adaptive benefit.
Previous actions that have permanently responded to the changing risk landscape include the adoption of Ordinance No. 2017-08 Nevada City Municipal Code, banning fireworks, and Ordinance No. 2020-16 amending noise regulations for use of emergency power generators. The City recognized that increasing wildfire risk will lead to more regular Public Safety Power Shutdowns (PSPS) by utility companies, as well as interruptions of power during hazards when infrastructure may become damaged, thus allowing residents to own and use generators can help residents to continue to filter air, refrigerate food and medicine, and otherwise adapt to the increasingly likelihood of intermittent electricity outages.
Variable Precipitation and Drought Preparedness and Response In 2015, the City developed and adopted a water shortage contingency plan. In response to drought proclamations by Governor Gavin Newsom, the NID, the California Water Resources Board, as well as premature reservoir water reductions and requests for purchased water from NID, the City declared a Stage 3 drought, which includes mandatory and voluntary water-use reductions by home and business consumers as outlined in Stage 3 of the Drought Action Plan. Residential customers face mandatory reductions of 15 percent, with 25 percent year-over-year reductions encouraged.
Other interventions include limiting watering and outdoor uses, posting signage, request-only water service in restaurants, request-only laundering at hotels, and leak repairs. Commercial users have not faced the mandatory water usage reductions, because the City needs to develop water-use profiles for individual users to assign appropriate reduction amounts. This indicates an area of preparation that needs to be emphasized so future drought response efforts are not delayed.
City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
40 5.3 City Facilities and Services
The City has few efforts in place for addressing climate change risks to its facilities and services. One exception is a major effort to improve water efficiency in its water distribution network.
Increased Temperature
The City currently has no specific plans or actions related to adapting city facilities management and operations to increasing temperatures and extreme heat events.
Wildfire
The City currently has no specific plans or actions related to hardening city facilities or reducing wildfire risk through management and operations that reduce wildfire risk.
Variable Precipitation and Drought
Beginning in 2012, the City undertook a major effort to identify and repair leaks in its water-delivery system that includes pipes laid down during the Gold Rush. In 2015, the City began using recycled water to run its wastewater treatment operations. Wastewater is treated in a state-of-the-art, three-stage process that sufficiently cleans the water for use in scrubbing wastewater treatment equipment, as well as irrigating landscaping at the treatment plant. In 2017, the City made repairs to the wastewater treatment plant after heavy rains caused a series of violations.
5.4 Open Space Management
The Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan includes measures to help reduce fire risk for the participating jurisdictions including Nevada City. The 2017 LHMP includes fire mitigation actions that Nevada City would be responsible for carrying out. Developing a Vegetation Management Plan was listed as part of the Fire Safety Council’s statement of purpose when the council was constituted, but the city has not currently developed and implemented such a plan. A Vegetation Management Plan, perhaps in concert with a Conservation Element in the General Plan, would serve to guide the actions of the City departments responsible for open space and park management applicable to the below climate hazards.
Increased Temperature.
Trees provide many physical and mental benefits, including shade and cooling for surrounding areas, water management, stress reduction, promotion of health, wellness, and physical activity. 35 Greater than 55 percent of the City has tree canopy (weighted by population), which is higher than 96 percent of California cities. Nevada City’s tree canopy is a major strength in adapting to increased temperature.
Wildfire
The Nevada City Fire Department Division Chief conducts fire break maintenance and fire clearing projects on City-managed open space. CAL FIRE Washington Ridge crews are hired to conduct some 35 The California Healthy Places Index (HPI) https://map.healthyplacesindex.org/ (accessed August 2021).
Adaptive Capacity
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 41
of the work. Projects include vegetation removal in locations that include Sugarloaf Mountain, Indian Trails Subdivision, and land near the Little Deer Creek Trail.
The City is in the process of developing a strategy for managing vegetation on “City Sliver” properties, through a cooperative program between the City and its residents. Resolution 2020-85 initiated the Adopt-a-Sliver Program and creation of a Firewise Map of City-Owned Properties. The Fire Safety Advisory Committee and Public Works Director manage this program as a way to acquire funds needed as a 1:1 match for a State Fire Assistance grant that will pay for professional treatments of its City Slivers, small pieces of land in town that often do not have parcel numbers and that require maintenance in order to meet fire safe standards. The Nevada City Sliver Project goals include prioritizing the City Slivers for fuels treatment, getting the properties professionally treated, and then recruiting and coordinating with local residents to conduct follow up maintenance as part of an “adopt-a-sliver program.” Thus far, the City has identified four properties that are ready for maintenance and that have community members who have indicated that they would like to maintain the property following a professional treatment. The City plans to develop an agreement for adoption and hopes to extend this program to encompass more City Sliver properties. The City created a Firewise Map to highlight all properties owned by the City that need regular clearing for wildfire protection. The map to shows residents City Slivers in the community that they can help keep maintained.
Variable Precipitation and Drought
There is no current set of plans, policies, and procedures relating to open space management and the impacts of variable precipitation and drought.
5.5 Private Property
The following activities relate to activities that enhance the ability of private property owners to adapt to climate changes.
Increased Temperature.
Air conditioning units provide protection against increased temperatures and extreme heat.
Approximately 65 percent of households in Nevada City have air conditioning. This is above the median for California cities.
36 Despite the relatively high level of air conditioning, approximately 45 percent of households still do not have air conditioning and there is no building code requirement for residences to be retrofitted with HVAC systems, window films, or other adaptive improvements.
Wildfire
Ordinance No. 2019-04 – updated the Municipal Code Chapter 8.10 to require annual vegetation clearance on private property. The Fire Chief sends out an annual Vegetation Management Public Notice to residents reminding them of this requirement and acts as the enforcement authority for vegetation removal. There is no systematic enforcement protocol however, and the primary mechanism for checking compliance is the Hazardous Vegetation Complaint Form, an online form allowing for community members to report hazardous or overgrown vegetation on private properties in the city.
36 The California Healthy Places Index https://map.healthyplacesindex.org/ (accessed August 2021).
City of Nevada City
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42 Variable Precipitation and Drought
In 2015, the City conducted a public outreach campaign that included a variety of methods and actions including posting water conservation signage, drought workshops focused on reducing outdoor watering use for drought-tolerant landscaping, an interactive program for students, and water conservation resources for residents. To aid residents in evaluating whether their conservation actions are effective, the City began including water-usage comparisons for the previous 2 years alongside current-usage data on its bills to customers.
There is not currently data available from the City regarding the level of enforcement, compliance or efficacy of private residential actions, including reductions in water usage.
Vulnerability Analysis
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 43
6 Vulnerability Analysis
Vulnerability to climate change is based on the combination of exposure to future climate hazards, the sensitivity of the community and community assets to climate hazards, and the capacity of the community and community asset to adapt. The analysis is used to inform a set of strategies and actions in the form of policies or programs that improve the ability of the community, its assets and essential services to adapt to climate change. These policies and programs will be incorporated into the Safety Element of the City’s General Plan.
6.1 Coordination
The City already engages in a significant amount of coordination with local, regional, and state stakeholder. Its most important stakeholder is the county. Given its resource constraints, improved resilience for the City and its residents will require continued coordination with existing stakeholders in a focused and efficient way.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of resilience strategies. Given the anticipated influence of climate change on the City’s hazard risk, it will be important for the City to remain organized, understand what is working and where to prioritize resources.
More effective activity tracking will enable the City to allocate resources effectively, demonstrate progress, and be more accountable to its citizens. One option would be to create a committee or commission responsible for guiding the Safety Element Implementation Plan.
• Streamline the flow of information between the Fire District and the FWCs. Given the number of groups, agencies, and Fire Departments, there is already good communication between the Fire District and the FWCs. There is also a significant amount of information for FWCs to manage. It is recommended that the City consider ways to streamline and organize the flow of information between the Fire District and FWCs. The City could play a role in providing a forum for scheduled meetings that clarify consistent guidance across all FWCs and opportunities for residents to engage with the Fire District for guidance and support.
This can provide an important vehicle for increased uptick in vital mitigation activities, such as home inspections, effective signage, and water source cataloging. It could also provide a vehicle for communicating the efforts that are put forth by all stakeholders. • Advocate and support wildfire mitigation activities that protect the City. Wildfire mitigation activities outside the City play a critical role in protecting the City. It is therefore important that the City continue to work with regional stakeholders, including the county, the regional fire districts, and CAL FIRE to advocate for actions and investments that reduce risk to the City and enable more effective fire suppression efforts that protect the City.
Prescribed burns, fuel load reductions, and fire break maintenance are all critically important strategies that will help protect the City.
• Secure county resources that improve the resilience of the City. County programs can provide the City and its residents with significant additional resources. The City should continue to advocate for the value these resources provide and make sure it is taking advantage of all the capabilities the county is willing and able to provide.
City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
44 6.2 Disaster Preparedness and Response
The City can expect to experience a greater number of disasters because of climate change.
Potential types of disasters to prepare for include extreme heat emergencies, air-quality emergencies associated with wildfire smoke, wildfire, flooding, and extreme weather. Extreme heat and air-quality emergencies are still relatively new climate hazards the City is expected to face.
Increases in wildfire risk will be the predominant vulnerability for the City to address because of its potential severity and increase in probability of occurrence.
The City has significant existing capacity in the form of existing policies, measures, and programs in the form of drought contingency planning, fire protection, and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions. It has also introduced Zonehaven, which is an evacuation tool, in partnership with the county. The City also has in place several planning documents that outline protocols, procedures, and operations for effective emergency response to a variety of hazards. However, more attention needs to be provided for heat and air quality emergencies.
Anticipate and plan for evacuations in neighborhoods with less than two evacuation routes. Per SB 99, the City must identify its residential developments that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. As a result of this analysis, which is included in the Safety Element, the City should put in place specific policies and actions that assist residents in this context.
Improve community preparedness for wildfire events. The City can continue to support public safety by providing clear messaging and guidance for evacuation planning, including how to prepare structures for wildfires. The FWCs can be resources for passing this type of information. There are also the Community Emergency Response Team trainings, which can prepare neighborhoods for disaster scenarios.
Facilitate advanced planning and mobilization for evacuating vulnerable groups. Some households and individuals may require special assistance under evacuation orders. The City should work with community-based organizations, hospitals, assisted-living residences, other facilities that support people with limited mobility and those who may be socially isolated on evacuation planning.
Evacuation procedures for vulnerable residents should be revised, reviewed, and retrained on a regular basis.
Facilitate improved fire suppression conditions. The probability of a severe wildfire impacting the City is expected to increase substantially because of climate change. One of the most important ways the City and its residents can prepare is to create and maintain the access and conditions that firefighters require to protect the different areas of the City effectively and safely. This includes effectively placed fuel breaks, roadway and driveway capacity, water supply access, signage, and sufficient space to effectively fight fires. The City can facilitate this vitally important aspect of disaster preparedness by working with the Fire District to disseminate information on what property owners need to do and work with residents to coordinate effectively with the Fire District and implement the necessary changes. It is also recommended that the City prepare a Community Wildfire Protection Plan in order to develop clear and effective fire risk reduction strategies.
Vulnerability Analysis
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 45
Improve preparedness for extreme heat emergencies. More than 600 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat every year.37 The probability of an extreme heat event that impacts the City is expected to increase because of climate change. The City should develop a response plan for heat emergencies and put in place contingencies should one occur. One options could be establish cooling centers. Power outages can be associate with heat emergencies, and it may be prudent to invest in effective backup-power capabilities for cooling centers and facilities for vulnerable groups such as seniors and those with chronic-health conditions.
Improve preparedness for downed trees and blocked stormwater infrastructure. The probability of an increase in damage from extreme weather events is expected to increase because of climate change. Damage can include downed trees and tree limbs, mudslides, landslides, road washouts, and sinkholes. Snow events may become wetter as temperature increases in the City. When combined with reduced tree health because of periodic drought and hotter temperatures, wetter snow can be expected to increase the number of downed limbs and trees. The City should prepare for increased effort for clearing storm-related debris and repairing storm damages. This is important not only for the immediate health and safety of the City’s residents but also to reduce wildfire risk from an increased fuel load.
6.3 City Facilities, Services, and Open Space
As a result of climate change, City facilities, services and open spaces will become exposed to a greater number of extreme heat events, wildfire, extreme weather events, air quality emergencies, and flooding. Increases in wildfire risk are the predominant vulnerability for the City to address.
However, because wildfire risk is linked to other climate change factors, including increased temperatures, drought patterns, and extreme weather, a comprehensive strategy will be needed to address climate change but also protect the public and the essential services from the air quality, weather, and heat hazards it is expected to experience in the coming decades.
The City has numerous existing adaptive capacities to maintain and build upon to manage climate change moving forward. It should focus its attention on resilience investments that address multiple forms of climate risks and provide additional benefits that enhance the City’s historic character.
Maintain the useability of public facilities as temperatures increase and air-quality emergencies become more prevalent. Climate change will drive the need for more energy and water efficient facilities. More robust temperature and air-quality control may become necessary to protect the health of facility employees and visitors. These additional requirements will need to be incorporated into future facility retrofits and designs.
Maintain the integrity of public facilities as extreme weather events become more prevalent.
Severe weather will become more extreme because of climate change. Public facilities may be expected to withstand conditions beyond their original design parameters. For example, pavement binders may degrade more quickly or fail because of increased temperatures. As a result, it will be necessary for the City to employ design parameters that account for climate change (not just based upon historical averages). It will also require structural changes to protect facilities from more extreme and dynamic wildfire risk.
Maintain the ability of the City to provide essential services as extreme weather events become more prevalent. In most cases, the City can incorporate resilience strategies into existing plans and 37 https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/index.html City of Nevada City
Safety Element Update
46 procedures to protect its services against hotter temperatures, more extreme weather, drought, and wildfire. This could include adding hazard mitigation and resilience criteria to its existing Capital Improvement Plans. It should also consider increased investments in resilient alternatives to traditional infrastructure solutions such as green infrastructure, reflective or non-permeable pavements, and more tree cover. The City should include climate projections in design criteria so that new structures and infrastructure are built for future conditions rather than historical ones.
Increase the ability of the City’s open spaces to provide the public with recreational benefits while enabling more effective fire prevention and suppression. The City is responsible for a significant amount of open space, which provides substantial benefit to the community. The City currently has limited resources with which to maintain its open space. The Fire District conducts fire-break maintenance and fire-clearing projects on City-managed open space. CAL FIRE Washington Ridge crews are hired to conduct some of the work. Climate change is expected to increase the required level of effort. The existing Adopt-a-Sliver program is a unique approach to vegetative management.
The City should look for creative ways to expand community mobilization options and the numerous existing grant programs given its resource constraints. In the past, the City has also explored using goats for vegetation management and this option should be revisited given the expected increase in wildfire risk. The City should also continue to explore ways to protect is flora and fauna from expected drought cycles.
6.4 Private Property
Climate change will necessitate increased financial investment and personal efforts by home and business owners. The actions that property owners take to adapt their properties to climate change influence both their safety and that of the community. An increase in daily temperature values, extreme-heat events, air-quality emergencies, wildfire, and extreme-precipitation events will require increased investments in thermal/energy efficiency, water efficiency, structural hardening, and weatherization. More efforts by property owners will also be required to maintain vegetation as well as wildfire risk increases, and drought conditions become more prevalent over time. Property owners will need to protect their homes from wildfires that are more intense, larger, and reaching their properties from further away. This will require new investments and maintenance activities that protect their own resources, living spaces, and assets. It will also provide substantial value to the community at large in terms of reducing wildfire risk and enhancing fire suppression capabilities within the City.
There are numerous existing resources to facilitate these investments and actions. Those who recognize the risk, have the financial resources, understand the investment options, and can invest their time and energy will adapt their properties to changing conditions and secure the benefits of doing so for themselves and the community.
Support and deliver focused messaging on the value and options for resilience investments. The City should continue to provide and/or facilitate the flow of clear information on the value of private property resilience investments in energy and water efficiency, weatherization, structural hardening, and vegetation management in two important ways. The first is messaging that explains the value and motivation of resilience investments in both individual and community terms. The second is messaging that provides detailed information regarding the options for undertaking resilience investments. If possible, the City should catalog options and benefits to the public. There is an overwhelming amount of information available. It is important that the City plays a role in streamlining messaging.
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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 47
Foster an ongoing shift of existing structures to include more efficient and resilient features. The City should facilitate a shift of it residential, commercial, and industrial building stock to include more efficient and weatherized features. This can be done by regularly reviewing and, if necessary, revising relevant building codes and ordinances for development and retrofits. It could also facilitate increased resilience investments by finding opportunities to further streamline the permitting process for resilience-oriented retrofits. The City can contribute to effective public awareness by incorporating building code and ordinance information into public messaging.
Enable existing community-based organizations to maximize their effectiveness. The FWCs are excellent organizations for reaching communities in the City, providing information to individual property owners, and inspiring private property resilience investments and efforts. The City should find ways to support FWC activities so that they are as effective as possible.
Assist vulnerable populations to better secure resilience improvements. There are households that require more focused and customized efforts to reach with messaging. The City should monitor the ability of its outreach efforts relative to vulnerable populations such as seniors (especially those who are isolated), economically disadvantaged households, and individuals with disabilities. This could include guidance on custom outreach tools, approaches, and methods. The City should also seek out resources to help vulnerable groups invest to combat climate change – home weatherization, vegetation management, and energy and water efficiency upgrades. The City should also put safeguards in place to promote resilience investments in rented properties.
Protect and enhance the resilience of the historic features of the City. Buildings in the historic downtown area are an irreplaceable community resource. The City should continue to support business owners of historic structures to make resilience investments while maintaining their historic qualities. The Nevada County Historical Society is a key stakeholder on this topic and should be engaged by the City.
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Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-1
Appendix B
2017 Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan-Annex B-Nevada City Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-2
Annex B City of Nevada City
B.1 Introduction
This Annex details the hazard mitigation planning elements specific to the City of Nevada City, a previously participating jurisdiction to the Nevada County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) Update. This Annex is not intended to be a standalone document, but appends to and supplements the information contained in the Base Plan document. As such, all sections of the Base Plan, including the planning process and other procedural requirements apply to and were met by the City. This Annex provides additional information specific to the City of Nevada City, with a focus on providing additional details on the risk assessment and mitigation strategy for this community.
B.2 Planning Process
As described above, the City of Nevada City followed the planning process detailed in Section 3 of the Base Plan. In addition to providing representation on the Nevada County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC), the City formulated their own internal planning team to support the broader planning process requirements. Internal planning participants, their positions, and how they participated in the planning process are shown in Table B-1. Additional details on plan participation and City representatives are included in Appendix A.
Table B-1 City of Nevada City Planning Team
Name Position/Title How Participated
Mark Prestwich City Manager City Manager during planning process Sam Goodspeed Fire Chief Hazard ID and Mitigation Strategy for Fire and Life/ Safety Bryan McAlister City Engineer Hazard ID and Mitigation Strategy for Public Works Infrastructure William Falconi Asst. City Engineer Hazard ID and Mitigation Strategy for Public Works Infrastructure Coordination with other community planning efforts is paramount to the successful implementation of this plan. This Section provides information on how the City integrated the previously-approved 2011 Plan into existing planning mechanisms and programs. Specifically, the City incorporated into or implemented the 2011 LHMP through other plans and programs shown in Table B-2.
Table B-2 2011 LHMP Incorporation
Planning Mechanism 2011 LHMP Was
Incorporated/Implemented In.
Details: How was it incorporated?
None Did not integrate the 2011 LHMP into other planning mechanisms Nevada County
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B.3 Community Profile
The community profile for the City of Nevada City is detailed in the following sections. Figure B-1 displays a map and the location of the City of Nevada City within Nevada County.
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Figure B-1 City of Nevada City
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B.3.1. Geography and Climate
Nestled in a basin on the Western Slope of the Sierra Nevada, Nevada City is framed and protected by ridge tops and promontories. At 2,500 feet above sea level, Nevada City is surrounded by forest. The City has a total area of 2.2 square miles.
Owing to its exposed location on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Nevada City receives moderate to heavy rainfall for California at 59 inches, though its climate is otherwise fairly typical for the state.
Although exceedingly heavy snow falls on the nearby mountains, it very rarely falls in the city. During a typical year, there are 31 days with temperatures of 90F or higher and, conversely, 75 freezing nights and 60 days where the temperature fails to reach 50F. The record high temperature is 111F, set on August 14, 1933, and the record low temperature is −1F, set on January 21, 1937 and on December 9, 1972.
B.3.2. History
For thousands of years Nevada City environs were inhabited by Paleo-Indians including the Southern Maidu, otherwise known as Nisenan. Nevada City was first settled in 1849 during the California Gold Rush as Nevada. In 1850-51, it was the most important mining town in California, Nevada County being the leading gold-mining county in the state. The town of Nevada was incorporated on April 19, 1856. In 1864, the word “City” was added to the name to relieve confusion with the bordering state of Nevada, and the town was legally known as “Nevada City” ever since.
With the diminution of gold mining and timber harvesting, plus the slice that the Golden State Freeway took out of the core of the City in the 1960s, city leaders looked to historic preservation as the path to the future. Creating its own historical district in 1968 has led to a slow butsteady increase in visitors and vitality as well as designation on the National Register of Historic Places.
B.3.3. Economy and Tax Base
US Census estimates show economic characteristics for the City of Nevada City. These are shown in Table B-3 and Table B-4. Mean household income in the City was $73,664. Median household income in the City was $47,981.
Table B-3 City of Nevada City Civilian Employed Population 16 years and Over Industry Estimated
Employment
Percent
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 14 1% Construction 88 6.2%
Manufacturing 129 9.1%
Wholesale trade 0 0.0%
Retail trade 168 11.9%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 80 5.7%
Information 0 0.0%
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Industry Estimated
Employment
Percent
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 60 4.2% Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services
184 13.0%
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 368 26.0% Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services 170 12.0% Other services, except public administration 68 4.8%
Public administration 84 5.9%
Source: US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2011-2015 Estimates Table B-4 City of Nevada City Income and Benefits
Income Bracket Population Percent
>$10,000 55 3.7%
$10,000 – $14,999 127 8.6%
$15,000 - $24,9999 105 7.1%
$25,000 – $34,999 199 24.0%
$35,000 – $49,999 58 7.0%
$50,000 – $74,999 172 20.7%
$75,000 – $99,999 82 9.9%
$100,000 – $149,999 98 11.8%
$150,000 – $199,999 55 6.6%
$200,000 or more 76 9.2%
Source: US Census Bureau, 2010
The City of Nevada City is the county seat and houses the Nevada County government offices and it is the headquarters for the Tahoe National Forest. The top employers in Nevada City include high tech manufacturing, the school district, and some industrial services. Information on the taxable base for the City can be found in Section 1.4 of the Base Plan.
B.3.4. Population
The California Department of Finance estimated the January 1, 2016 total population for the City of Nevada City was 3,260.
B.4 Hazard Identification
The City of Nevada City’s planning team identified the hazards that affect the City and summarized their frequency of occurrence, spatial extent, potential magnitude, and significance specific to Nevada City (see Table B-5).
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Table B-5 City of Nevada City—Hazard Identification Assessment Hazard
Geographic
Extent
Probability
of Future
Occurrences
Magnitude/
Severity Significance
Climate
Change
Influence
Ag Hazards: Severe Weather/Insect Pests Limited Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium Avalanche Limited Unlikely Negligible Low Medium
Climate Change Extensive Occasional Limited Medium Medium Dam Failure Significant Unlikely Catastrophic High Medium Drought and Water Shortage Extensive Occasional Critical Medium High Earthquake Significant Unlikely Limited Medium Low
Flood: 1%/0.2% Annual Chance Limited Likely Limited Medium High Flood: Localized/Stormwater Significant Highly Likely Limited Medium High Hazardous Materials Transportation
(interstates, railroads, pipelines) Limited Unlikely Limited Medium Low
Landslide, Debris & Mud Flows Limited Unlikely Limited Medium Medium Levee Failure Limited Unlikely Limited Low Medium
Severe Weather: Extreme Heat Extensive Occasional Limited Medium Medium Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Snow,
and Freeze Extensive Occasional Limited Medium
Medium
Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms
(wind/tornado, hail, lightning) Significant Likely Critical High High
Subsidence Limited Unlikely Limited Medium Medium
Volcano Limited Unlikely Limited Medium Medium
Wildfire (smoke, tree mortality,
conflagration) Significant Highly Likely Critical High
High
Geographic Extent
Limited: Less than 10% of planning
area
Significant: 10-50% of planning area
Extensive: 50-100% of planning area
Probability of Future Occurrences
Highly Likely: Near 100% chance of
occurrence in next year, or happens
every year.
Likely: Between 10 and 100% chance
of occurrence in next year, or has a
recurrence interval of 10 years or less.
Occasional: Between 1 and 10%
chance of occurrence in the next year,
or has a recurrence interval of 11 to
100 years.
Unlikely: Less than 1% chance of
occurrence in next 100 years, or has a
recurrence interval of greater than
every 100 years.
Magnitude/Severity
Catastrophic—More than 50 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown of facilities for more than 30 days; and/or multiple deaths Critical—25-50 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown of facilities for at least two weeks; and/or injuries and/or illnesses result in permanent disability
Limited—10-25 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown of facilities for more than a week; and/or injuries/illnesses treatable do not result in permanent disability
Negligible—Less than 10 percent of property severely damaged, shutdown of facilities and services for less than 24 hours; and/or injuries/illnesses treatable with first aid
Significance
Low: minimal potential impact
Medium: moderate potential impact
High: widespread potential impact
Climate Change Impact:
Low: Climate change is not likely to increase the probability of this hazard.
Medium: Climate change is likely to increase the probability of this hazard.
High: Climate change is very likely to increase the probability of this hazard.
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B.5 Hazard Profile and Vulnerability Assessment
The intent of this section is to profile Nevada City’s hazards and assess the City’s vulnerability separate from that of the Planning Area as a whole, which has already been assessed in Sections 4.2 Hazard Profiles and 4.3 Vulnerability Assessment in the Base Plan. The hazard profiles in the Base Plan discuss overall impacts to the Planning Area and describes the hazard problem description, hazard extent, magnitude/severity, previous occurrences of hazard events and the likelihood of future occurrences. Hazard profile information specific to the City is included in this Annex. This vulnerability assessment analyzes the property, population, critical facilities, and other assets at risk to hazards ranked of medium or high significance specific to the City and also includes a vulnerability assessment to the three primary hazards to the State of California: earthquake, flood, and wildfire. For more information about how hazards affect the County as a whole, see Chapter 4 Risk Assessment in the Base Plan.
B.5.1. Hazard Profiles
Each hazard vulnerability assessment in Section B.5.3, includes a hazard profile/problem description as to how each medium or high significant hazard affects the City and includes information on past hazard occurrences. The intent of this section is to provide jurisdictional specific information on hazards and further describe how the hazards and risks differ across the planning area.
B.5.2. Vulnerability Assessment and Assets at Risk
This section identifies Nevada City’s total assets at risk, including values at risk, populations at risk, critical facilities and infrastructure, natural resources, and historic and cultural resources. Growth and development trends are also presented for the community. This data is not hazard specific, but is representative of total assets at risk within the community.
Values at Risk
The following data from the Nevada County Assessor’s Office is based on the 2016/2017 Assessor’s data.
The methodology used to derive land values, property values, and estimated contents values is the same as in Section 4.3.1 of the Base Plan. This data should only be used as a guideline to overall values in the County, as the information has some limitations. The most significant limitation is created by Proposition
13. Instead of adjusting property values annually, the values are not adjusted or assessed at fair market value until a property transfer occurs. As a result, overall value information is likely low and does not reflect current market value of properties within the County. It is also important to note, in the event of a disaster, it is generally the value of the infrastructure or improvements to the land that is of concern or at risk. Generally, the land itself is not a loss. However, depending on the type of hazard and impact of any given hazard event, land values may be adversely affected; thus, land values are included as appropriate.
Table B-6 shows the 2016/2017 Assessor’s values (e.g., the values at risk) broken down by property type for the City of Nevada City.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-10
Table B-6 City of Nevada City – Total Values at Risk by Property Use Property Use
Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value Total Value
Agricultural 5 1 $267,882 $448,000 $448,000 $1,163,882
Commercial 252 203 $48,729,787 $89,276,521 $89,276,521 $227,282,829 Government 95 1 $148,458 $226,808 $226,808 $602,074
Industrial 20 20 $4,139,466 $11,850,950 $17,776,425 $33,766,841 Institutional 16 13 $1,071,530 $5,219,266 $5,219,266 $11,510,062 Miscellaneous 11 1 $804,566 $80,838 $80,838 $966,242
Residential 2,979 2,613 $282,617,510 $541,029,622 $270,514,811 $1,094,161,943 Total 3,378 2,852 $337,779,199 $648,132,005 $383,542,669 $1,369,453,873 Source: Nevada County 2016/2017 Parcel/Assessor’s Data
Population and Special Populations at Risk
General Population
As previously described in the community profile, based on California Department of Finance estimates, the current January 1, 2016 total population for the City of Nevada City was 3,260 all of which are potentially vulnerable to hazard events.
Special Populations
According to the Nevada City Housing Element, senior citizens make up about 13 percent of the City’s population and about 17 percent of the City’s households. Senior population decreased in Nevada City by
7.6 percent or by 34 persons between 2000 and 2010.
There are about 292 family households with children in the City. Of these households, 81 or 27.7 percent are headed by single females.
Approximately 26 families or 1.9 percent of the City’s population were below the poverty level. The number of families below the poverty level doubled from 13 to 26 from 2000 to 2010.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
For purposes of this plan, a critical facility is defined as:
Any facility, including without limitation, a structure, infrastructure, property, equipment or service, that if adversely affected during a hazard event may result in severe consequences to public health and safety or interrupt essential services and operations for the community at any time before, during and after the hazard event.
A critical facility is classified by the following categories: (1) Essential Services Facilities: (2) At-risk Populations Facilities, (3) Hazardous Materials Facilities.
Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-11
➢ Essential Services Facilities include, without limitation, public safety, emergency response, emergency medical, designated emergency shelters, communications, public utility plant facilities and equipment, and government operations. Sub-Categories:
✓ Public Safety - Police stations, fire and rescue stations, emergency operations centers ✓ Emergency Response - Emergency vehicle and equipment storage and essential governmental work centers for continuity of government operations.
✓ Emergency Medical - Hospitals, emergency care, urgent care, ambulance services. ✓ Designated Emergency Shelters.
✓ Communications - Main hubs for telephone, main broadcasting equipment for television systems, radio and other emergency warning systems.
✓ Public Utility Plant Facilities - including equipment for treatment, generation, storage, pumping and distribution (hubs for water, wastewater, power and gas). ✓ Essential Government Operations - Public records, courts, jails, building permitting and inspection services, government administration and management, maintenance and equipment centers, and public health.
✓ Transportation Lifeline Systems - Airports, helipads, and critical highways, roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure (Note: Critical highways, roads, etc. will be determined during any hazard-specific evacuation planning and are not identified in this plan). ➢ At Risk Population Facilities include, without limitation, pre-schools, public and private primary and secondary schools, before and after school care centers with 12 or more students, daycare centers with 12 or more children, group homes, and assisted living residential or congregate care facilities with 12 or more residents.
➢ Hazardous Materials Facilities include, without limitation, any facility that could, if adversely impacted, release of hazardous material(s) in sufficient amounts during a hazard event that would create harm to people, the environment and property.
A fully detailed list of all critical facilities in the planning are can be found in Appendix F. An inventory of critical facilities in theCity of Nevada City from Nevada County GIS is shown on Figure B-2 and detailed in Table B-7. Note that only Category 1, Essential Services, and Category 2, At-risk Populations were available in mapped form and are thus included on Figure B-2 and Table B-7. Category 3, Hazardous Materials Facilities, was only available in table format. Due to the large number of these facilities, they are included in Table F-2 in Appendix F. Also to note, the mapped layer is based on best available data and may not reflect a comprehensive inventory of critical facilities in the County and the City based on the current definition; this is a work in progress.
Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-12
Figure B-2 City of Nevada City – Critical Facilities
Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-13
Table B-7 City of Nevada City – Critical Facilities Inventory Critical Facility Category Critical Facility Type Critical Facility Count Essential Services Airport 0
Bridge 15
Church 9
Fire 3
Government Building 15
Hospital 0
School 0
Shelter 2
Total 44
At Risk Populations Airport 0
Bridge 0
Church 0
Fire 0
Government Building 4
Hospital 0
School 11
Shelter 0
Total 15
Grand Total 59
Source: Nevada County GIS
Natural Resources
The City has a variety of natural resources of value to the community. As described in the current General Plan and Municipal Code for the City of Nevada City, protected natural resources include water quality, tree preservation, scenic views, historic structures and open space. The life and character of Nevada City and the value of property in the City are directly related to preservation of these natural resources.
Historic and Cultural Resources
The City of Nevada City has registered historic sites identified in Table B-8.
Table B-8 Nevada City Historical Resources
Resource Name (Plaque Number)
National
Register
State
Landmark
Point of
Interest Date Listed City
A. A. Sargent Residence, Sargent-Freeman
Residence (P305)
X 7/13/1973 Nevada City
Aaron Baruh House (P382) X 3/20/1975 Nevada City
Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-14
Resource Name (Plaque Number)
National
Register
State
Landmark
Point of
Interest Date Listed City
American Hill Diggins (P273) X 11/1/1972 Nevada City
BR #17C-24 / Purdon Bridge (P839) X 9/13/2000 Nevada City Caldwell's Upper Store Site (P304) X 7/13/1973 Nevada City Columbia Hill School (P194) X 5/19/1971 Nevada City
Englebright House (P326) X 3/15/1974 Nevada City
First Manufacturing Site Of The Pelton Wheel
(1012)
X 5/27/1993 Nevada City
Lone Grave, The (P8) X 12/16/1966 Nevada City
Marsh, Martin Luther, House (N225) X 4/11/1973 Nevada City Martin Luther Marsh House (P241) X 1/19/1972 Nevada City National Hotel (899) X X 6/16/1976 Nevada City
Nevada Brewery (N1380) X 9/12/1985 Nevada City
Nevada City Downtown Historic District
(N1382)
X 9/23/1985 Nevada City
Nevada City Firehouse No. 2 (N286) X 5/3/1974 Nevada City Nevada City Free Public Library (N1659) X 12/10/1990 Nevada City Nevada Theatre (863) X X 9/13/1973 Nevada City
North Bloomfield Mining And Gravel Company
(852)
X 1/20/1972 Nevada City
Ott's Assay Office (N346) X 4/14/1975 Nevada City
Pioneer Cemetery (P324) X 3/15/1974 Nevada City
Plaza Grocery (P325) X 3/15/1974 Nevada City
Red Castle, The (P191) X 5/19/1971 Nevada City
Red Dog Townsite (N2143) X X 9/14/2001 Nevada City
Sargent, Aaron A., House (N884) X 6/20/1980 Nevada City Searls Historical Library (P257) X 6/22/1972 Nevada City South Yuba Canal Office (832) X 8/29/1969 Nevada City
William Morris Stewart House (P272) X 11/1/1972 Nevada City You Bet Townsite (P400) X 5/9/1975 Nevada City
Source: California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Historic Preservation, http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ Growth and Development Trends
Nevada City has seen slow and steady growth. The City grew at a slower pace than Nevada County and the region, with a growth of 4.4 percent during the 1990 to 2000 decade, as compared to 17.5 and 13.8 percent for Nevada County and the state respectively. Nevada City has seen increasing growth rates as shown in Table A-9. Between 2000 and 2010, Nevada County and the State of California saw growth rates of about 16 percent and 1.0 percent respectively, while Nevada City’s population increased by 20.8 percent.
California Department of Finance estimates for July 1, 2014 were 13,804. In comparison to other cities Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-15
in the county, Nevada City has not experienced the same growth and thus has been able to retain a smalltown atmosphere.
Given the current City boundaries and its micro-urban character that provide limited in-fill development opportunities, population continues to grow at a slow steady pace. Due to limited availability of vacant land in the City, projected growth is expected to continue at a similar slow pace through 2019. However, with the October 2008 adoption of the City’s Sphere of Influence, there are some potential annexation possibilities that could further expand the City’s population and related housing opportunities.
Table A-9 City of Nevada City – Population Trends
Year Nevada City Nevada County California
2000 3,001 78,510 29,758,213
2010 3,068 93,033 33,871,648
2015 3,272 98,764 37,253,956
Source: City of Nevada City Housing Element, January 2014 Land Use
Land use for Nevada City has largely followed the principal objectives outlined in the General Plan. This includes 1) preserving the sense of wooded enclosure by maintaining rural density surrounding a tight urban cluster; 2) enhancement of the historic core; and 3) creating opportunities for employment and revenue generators. The Land Use map for the City is shown on Figure B-3.
Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-16
Figure B-3 City of Nevada City – Land Use Map
Source: City of Nevada City
Development since 2011 Plan
As shown in Table B-10, Nevada City has seen a gain of 6.2% of population between 2010 and January 1, 2016.
Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-17
Table B-10 City of Nevada City – Population Changes Since 2011 Year Population Change % Change
20101 3,068 – –
20162 3,260 192 6.3%
Source: 1US Census Bureau, 2California Department of Finance The City Engineering Department tracked total building permits issued since 2011 for the City. These are tracked by total development, property use type, and hazard risk area. These are shown in Table B-11 and Table B-12. All development in the identified hazard areas, including any within the 1% annual chance floodplains, avalanche and landslide prone areas, and moderate or higher wildfire risk areas, were completed in accordance with all current and applicable development codes and standards and should be adequately protected. Thus, with the exception of more people living in the area potentially exposed to natural hazards, this growth should not cause a significant change in vulnerability of the City to identified priority hazards.
Table B-11 City of Nevada City Total Development Since 2011 Property Use 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Residential 4 7 6 12 10
Commercial 3 3 4 5 4
Industrial
Other 1
Total 7 10 10 18 14
Source: City of Nevada City Engineering Department
Table B-12 City of Nevada City Development in Hazard Areas since 2011 Property Use 1% Annual
Chance Flood
Avalanche Prone
Area
Landslide
Susceptibility
Area
Wildfire Risk
Area1
Other
Residential 0 0 0 8 0
Commercial 0 0 0 1 0
Industrial 0 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 1 0
Total 0 0 0 12 0
Source: City of Nevada City Engineering Department
1Moderate or higher wildfire risk area
Future Development
New Construction reflects a total of 154.43 acres of vacant and under-utilized land currently zoned residential (RR, R1, R2 and R3) in Nevada City. These lands could accommodate up to 240 new housing units, well in excess of the 131 units specified by the City’s current Regional Housing Needs Assessment Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-18
for the 2014-2019 Housing Element period. The possible conversion of existing motel units may provide housing opportunities for extremely low income persons and/or seniors.
More general information on growth and development in Nevada County as a whole can be found in “Growth and Development Trends” in Section 4.3.1 Nevada County Vulnerability and Assets at Risk of the Base Plan.
B.5.3. Vulnerability to Specific Hazards
This section provides the vulnerability assessment, including any quantifiable loss estimates, for those hazards identified above in Table B-5 as high or medium significance hazards. Impacts of past events and vulnerability of the City to specific hazards are further discussed below (see Section 4.1 Hazard Identification in the Base Plan for more detailed information about these hazards and their impacts on the Nevada County Planning Area). Methodologies for calculating loss estimates are the same as those described in Section 4.3 of the Base Plan. In general, the most vulnerable structures are those located within the floodprone areas, WUI areas, unreinforced masonry buildings, and buildings built prior to the introduction of modern building codes.
An estimate of the vulnerability of the City to each identified priority hazard, in addition to the estimate of risk of future occurrence, is provided in each of the hazard-specific sections that follow. Vulnerability is measured in general, qualitative terms and is a summary of the potential impact based on past occurrences, spatial extent, and damage and casualty potential. It is categorized into the following classifications:
➢ Extremely Low—The occurrence and potential cost of damage to life and property is very minimal to nonexistent.
➢ Low—Minimal potential impact. The occurrence and potential cost of damage to life and property is minimal.
➢ Medium—Moderate potential impact. This ranking carries a moderate threat level to the general population and/or built environment. Here the potential damage is more isolated and less costly than a more widespread disaster.
➢ High—Widespread potential impact. This ranking carries a high threat to the general population and/or built environment. The potential for damage is widespread. Hazards in this category may have occurred in the past.
➢ Extremely High—Very widespread with catastrophic impact.
Depending on the hazard and availability of data for analysis, this hazard specific vulnerability assessment includes information on values at risk, critical facilities and infrastructure, populations at risk, natural resources, historic and cultural resources, and future development.
Nevada County
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August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-19
Ag Hazards: Severe Weather/Insect Pests
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Highly Likely
Vulnerability–Medium
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
Given the importance of agriculture to Nevada County, agricultural hazards continue to be an ongoing concern. The primary causes of agricultural losses are severe weather events, such as drought, freeze, and insect infestations. According to the HMPC, agricultural losses occur on an annual basis throughout the County including the City, are usually associated with these severe weather events.
Past Occurrences
Located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada between 1,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation, the agricultural lands of Nevada County have historically been affected by weather related events such as heavy rain, freezing temperatures (including late spring frosts and early fall frosts) and drought. The severe weather events can have devastating effects on fruit set and harvest causing losses in yield and affecting quality. Past occurrences for the City of ag hazards are similar to the County as a whole. Those past occurrences were listed in Section 4.2.5 of the Base Plan.
Vulnerability to Ag Hazards: Severe Weather/Insect Pests According to the HMPC, the consequences of agricultural disasters to the Planning Area include ruined plant crops, dead livestock, ruined feed and agricultural equipment, monetary loss, job loss, and possible multi-year effects (i.e., trees might not produce if damaged, loss of markets, food shortages, increased prices, possible spread of disease to people, and loss or contamination of animal products). When these hazards cause a mass die-off of livestock, other issues occur that include the disposal of animals, depopulation of affected herds, decontamination, and resource problems. Those disasters related to severe weather may also require the evacuation and sheltering of animal populations. Overall, any type of severe agricultural disaster can have significant economic impacts on both the agricultural community and the City.
Future Development
Future development in the City is not likely to have an impact on agricultural hazards in Nevada County, except to the extent that agricultural lands are taken out of production as new development occurs reducing available land for agricultural uses, including those related to farming, timber production and grazing.
Nevada County
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City of Nevada City Annex B-20
Climate Change
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Occasional
Vulnerability–Medium
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
Climate change adaptation is a key priority of the State of California. The 2013 State of California MultiHazard Mitigation Plan stated that climate change is already affecting California. Sea levels have risen by as much as seven inches along the California coast over the last century, increasing erosion and pressure on the state’s infrastructure, water supplies, and natural resources. The State has also seen increased average temperatures, more extreme hot days, fewer cold nights, a lengthening of the growing season, shifts in the water cycle with less winter precipitation falling as snow, and earlier runoff of both snowmelt and rainwater in the year. In addition to changes in average temperatures, sea level, and precipitation patterns, the intensity of extreme weather events is also changing.
In Nevada County, the HMPC noted that each year it seems to get a bit warmer and snow seems to start at higher levels. It was also noted that 2017 was one of the wettest years ever. California’s Adaptation Planning Guide: Understanding Regional Characteristics has divide California into 11 different regions based on political boundaries, projected climate impacts, existing environmental setting, socioeconomic factors and regional designations. Nevada County falls within the North Sierra Region characterized as a sparsely settled mountainous region where the region’s economy is primarily tourism-based. The region is rich in natural resources, biodiversity, and is the source for the majority of water used by the state.
Past Occurrences
Climate change has never been directly linked to any declared disasters.
Vulnerability to Climate Change
The California Adaptation Planning Guide (APG) prepared by California OES and CNRA was developed to provide guidance and support for local governments and regional collaboratives to address the unavoidable consequences of climate change.
The APG: Understanding Regional Characteristics identified the following impacts specific to the North Sierra region in which the Nevada County Planning Area is part of:
➢ Temperature increases
➢ Decreased precipitation
➢ Reduced snowpack
➢ Reduced tourism
➢ Ecosystem change
➢ Sensitive species stress
➢ Increased wildfire
Nevada County
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August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-21
Future Development
Nevada City in general could see population fluctuations as a result of climate impacts relative to those experienced in other regions, and these fluctuations are expected to impact demand for housing and other development. For example, excessive heat and drought may make wildfires worse for the City. Other interior western states may experience an exodus of population due to challenges in adapting to heat even more extreme than that which is projected to occur here. While there are currently no formal studies of specific migration patterns expected to impact the Nevada County region, climate-induced migration was recognized within the UNFCCC Conference of Parties Paris Agreement of 2015 and is expected to be the focus of future studies
Dam Failure
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Unlikely
Vulnerability–High
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
Dams are manmade structures built for a variety of uses including flood protection, power generation, agriculture, water supply, and recreation. When dams are constructed for flood protection, they are usually engineered to withstand a flood with a computed risk of occurrence. For example, a dam may be designed to contain a flood at a location on a stream that has a certain probability of occurring in any one year. If prolonged periods of rainfall and flooding occur that exceed the design requirements, that structure may be overtopped and fail. Overtopping is the primary cause of earthen dam failure in the United States.
The primary dam capable of impacting Nevada City in event of failure is the Scotts Flat Lake Dam operated by NID. Inundation as a result of dam failure would most likely be the result of an earthquake. However, the area of Nevada County in which these dams exist is not located within an historical seismic zone. In fact, the western half of Nevada County is within the lowest earthquake intensity zone in California.
Past Occurrences
There have been no disasters declarations related to dam failure in Nevada City.
Vulnerability to Dam Failure
Dam failure flooding presents a threat to life and property, including buildings, their contents, and their use.
Large flood events can affect crops and livestock as well as lifeline utilities (e.g., water, sewerage, and power), transportation, jobs, tourism, the environment, and the local and regional economies.
Dam failure flooding would vary by community depending on which dam fails and the nature and extent of the dam failure and associated flooding. Based on the risk assessment, it is apparent that a major dam failure could have a devastating impact on the County, however there is no specific evidence to support the City is vulnerable.
Nevada County
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August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-22
Future Development
Although new growth and development corridors would fall in the area flooded by a dam failure, given the limited potential of total dam failure and the large area that a dam failure would affect, development in the dam inundation area will continue to occur.
Drought and Water Shortage
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Occasional
Vulnerability–Medium
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
Drought is different than many of the other natural hazards in that it is not a distinct event and usually has a slow onset. Drought can severely impact a region both physically and economically. Drought affects different sectors in different ways and with varying intensities. Adequate water is the most critical issue for agricultural, manufacturing, tourism, recreation, and commercial and domestic use. As the population in the area continues to grow, so will the demand for water.
Northern Sacramento Valley counties, including Nevada County, generally have sufficient groundwater and surface water supplies to mitigate even the severest droughts of the past century. Many other areas of the State, however, also place demands on these water resources during severe drought. For example, Northern California agencies, including those from Nevada County, were major participants in the Governor’s Drought Water Bank of 1991, 1992, and 1994.
Past Occurrences
Based on historical information, the occurrence of drought in California, including Nevada County, is cyclical, driven by weather patterns. Drought has occurred in the past and will occur in the future. There has been two state disaster related to drought and water shortage in Nevada County issued in 1976 and 2014.
Nevada City depends on rain and snow that generally falls from late October through March for drinking water year-round. Historical precipitation and water use records used to be fairly reliable when planning for future water supply. But more recent documented changes in local snowpack, precipitation, and temperatures show that is no longer the case.
Vulnerability to Drought and Water Shortage
With more precipitation likely falling as rain instead of snow, and warmer temperatures causing decreased snowfall to melt faster and earlier, water supply is likely to become more unreliable. In addition, drought is predicted to become more common. This means less water available for use over the long run, and additional challenges for water supply reliability, especially during periods of extended drought.
Nevada County
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August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-23
Future Development
The City will continue to develop and grow. The City has been aggressive in its efforts to reduce the demand for water, and to move toward more sustainable water use.
Earthquake
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Unlikely
Vulnerability–Medium
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth’s outer layer push the sides of the fault together. Stress builds up, and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the earth’s crust and cause the shaking that is felt during an earthquake. The amount of energy released during an earthquake is usually expressed as a magnitude and is measured directly from the earthquake as recorded on seismographs. An earthquake’s magnitude is expressed in whole numbers and decimals (e.g.,
6.8). Seismologists have developed several magnitude scales. Seismic shaking is typically the greatest cause of losses to structures during earthquakes. A 1986 study by the California Bureau of Reclamation concluded that the Dog Valley Fault and Mohawk Valley Faults could result in a maximum credible earthquake of 6.75 and 7.0 magnitude respectively.
Past Occurrences
There have been numerous occurrences of low magnitude Earthquakes in the vicinity of Nevada City, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. None have had major impacts on the City due to the City’s geographic location in the County. Nevada City is primarily in the 10-15% peak ground acceleration zone.
Vulnerability to Earthquake
Earthquake vulnerability is primarily based on population and the built environment. Urban areas in high seismic hazard zones are the most vulnerable, while uninhabited areas are less vulnerable. Nevada City is subject to some seismic activity, although this risk is relatively low compared to other places in the State.
There are approximately 20 unreinforced masonry buildings in downtown Nevada City.
Future Development
Although new growth and development corridors would occur in areas at risk to future earthquakes, given the small chance of major earthquake and the building codes in effect, development in the earthquake area will continue to occur.
Nevada County
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August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-24
Flood: 1% and 0.2% Annual Chance (100/500-Year)
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Likely
Vulnerability–Medium
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
As previously described in Section 4.2.11 of the main plan, the Nevada County Planning Area and the City of Nevada City have been subject to historical flooding. Within the City of Nevada City, much of the flood damage occurs as a result of localized stormwater flooding, with limited flood damage occurring in the 1% (100-year) and greater floodplains. Most recently, flooding occurred in December 2016, January 2017 and February 2017 as a result of heavy stormwater runoff caused by severe winter storms. Although actual damages were minimal, the storms impacted transit on public roads and caused some business closures due to limited access. Stormwater infrastructure also sustained limited damage.
FEMA Flood Zones
A small portion of the City is located inside of the1% annual chanceflood zone as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This is seen in Figure B-4.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-25
Figure B-4 City of Nevada City – FEMA DFIRM Flood Zones Nevada County
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August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-26
Values at Risk
GIS was used to determine the possible impacts of flooding within the City of Nevada City. The methodology described in Section 4.3.7 of the Base Plan was followed in determining structures and values at risk to the 1% (100-year) and 0.2% (500-year) annual chance flood event. Table B-13 shows the property use, improved parcel count, improved values, estimated contents (using the methodology in Table 4.35 in Section 4.3.1), total values and estimated loss of parcels that fall in a floodplain in the City.
Table B-13 City of Nevada City– Count and Improved Value by Property Use and Detailed Flood Zone with Contents Replacement Values
Flood Zone /
Property Use
Total
Parcel
Count*
Improved
Parcel
Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure Value
Estimated
Contents Value
Total Value
Zone A (1% Annual Chance Flood)
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 6 5 $939,352 $1,314,199 $1,314,199 $2,628,398 Government 8 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 20 16 $1,765,247 $2,543,709 $1,271,855 $3,815,564 Total 34 21 $2,704,599 $3,857,908 $2,586,054 $6,443,962 Zone AE (1% Annual Chance Flood)
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Government 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 2 1 $244,207 $381,397 $190,699 $572,096
Total 2 1 $244,207 $381,397 $190,699 $572,096
Zone AE Floodway (1% Annual Chance Flood)
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Government 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 1 1 $113,000 $210,000 $105,000 $315,000
Total 1 1 $113,000 $210,000 $105,000 $315,000
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-27
Flood Zone /
Property Use
Total
Parcel
Count*
Improved
Parcel
Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure Value
Estimated
Contents Value
Total Value
1 % Annual
Chance Grand
Total
37 23 $3,061,806 $4,449,305 $2,881,752 $7,331,057
Shaded X ( 0.2% Annual Chance **)
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Government 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 2 2 $49,767 $331,655 $165,828 $497,483
Total 2 2 $49,767 $331,655 $165,828 $497,483
Zone D – Unmapped
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Government 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Zone X – Unshaded (No Mapped Flood Hazard)
Agricultural 5 1 $267,882 $448,000 $448,000 $896,000
Commercial 246 198 $47,790,435 $87,962,322 $87,962,322 $175,924,644 Government 87 1 $148,458 $226,808 $226,808 $453,616
Industrial 20 20 $4,139,466 $11,850,950 $17,776,425 $29,627,375 Institutional 16 13 $1,071,530 $5,219,266 $5,219,266 $10,438,532 Miscellaneous 11 1 $804,566 $80,838 $80,838 $161,676
Residential 2,954 2,593 $280,445,289 $537,562,861 $268,781,431 $806,344,292 Total 3,339 2,827 $334,667,626 $643,351,045 $380,495,090 $1,023,846,135 Source: FEMA 2010 DFIRM, Nevada County 2016/2017 Parcel/Assessor’s Data *With respect to improve parcels within the floodplain, the actual structures on the parcels may not be located within the actual floodplain, may be elevated and or otherwise outside of the identified flood zone **This parcel count only includes those parcels in the 0.2% annual chance floodplain, exclusive of the 1% annual chance floodplain.
The 0.2% annual chance flood, in actuality, also includes all parcels in the 1% annual chance floodplain.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-28
Table B-14 summarizes Table B-13 above and shows City of Nevada City loss estimates and shows improved values at risk by FEMA 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood zones.
Table B-14 City of Nevada City – Flood Loss Summary
Flood Zone / Property
Use
Total
Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel
Count *
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total
Value
Loss
Estimate
Loss
Ratio
1% Annual Chance 37 23 $4,449,305 $2,881,752 $7,331,057 $1,466,211 0.15%
0.2% Annual Chance ** 2 2 $331,655 $165,828 $497,483 $99,497 0.01% Grand Total 39 25 $4,780,960 $3,047,580 $7,828,540 $1,565,708 0.16% Source: FEMA DFIRM, Nevada County 2015 Parcel/Assessor’s Data *With respect to improve parcels within the floodplain, the actual structures on the parcels may not be located within the actual floodplain, may be elevated and or otherwise outside of the identified flood zone **This parcel count only includes those parcels in the 0.2% annual chance floodplain, exclusive of the 1% annual chance floodplain.
The 0.2% annual chance flood, in actuality, also includes all parcels in the 1% annual chance floodplain.
According to Table B-13 and Table B-14, the City of Nevada City has 23 improved parcels and $7.3 million of structure and contents value in the 1% annual chance floodplain. The City has 2 improved parcels and $0.5 million in the 0.2% annual chance floodplain. These values can be refined a step further. Applying the 20 percent damage factor as previously described in Section 4.3.8 of the Base Plan, there is a 1% chance in any given year of a flood event causing roughly $1.5 million in damages, and a 0.2% chance of a flood event causing $0.1 million in damages in the City of Nevada City. A loss ratio of 0.16% indicates that losses in Nevada City to flood would be relatively minor, as a sixth of a percent of the total values in the City would be damaged.
Flooded Acres
Also of interest is the land area affected by the various flood zones. The following is an analysis of flooded acres in the City in comparison to total area within the City limits. The same methodology, as discussed in Section 4.3.7 of the Base Plan, was used for the City of Nevada City as well as for the County as a whole.
Table B-15 represents a detailed and summary analysis of total and improved acres for each FEMA DFIRM flood zone in the City.
Table B-15 City of Nevada City– Flooded Acres
Flood Zone / Property Use Total Flooded Acres Improved Flooded Acres 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard
Zone AE
Agricultural 0 0
Commercial 0 0
Government 0 0
Industrial 0 0
Institutional 0 0
Miscellaneous 0 0
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-29
Flood Zone / Property Use Total Flooded Acres Improved Flooded Acres Residential 9 6
Zone AE Total 9 6
Zone AE Floodway
Agricultural 0 0
Commercial 0 0
Government 0 0
Industrial 0 0
Institutional 0 0
Miscellaneous 0 0
Residential 15 8
Zone AE Floodway Total 15 8
Zone AO
Agricultural 0 0
Commercial 0 0
Government 0 0
Industrial 0 0
Institutional 0 0
Miscellaneous 0 0
Residential 0 0
Zone AO Total 0 0
Zone A
Agricultural 0 0
Commercial 3 2
Government 23 0
Industrial 0 0
Institutional 0 0
Miscellaneous 0 0
Residential 57 25
Zone A Total 82 27
1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Total 106 41
0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard
Agricultural 0 0
Commercial 0 0
Government 0 0
Industrial 0 0
Institutional 0 0
Miscellaneous 0 0
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-30
Flood Zone / Property Use Total Flooded Acres Improved Flooded Acres Residential 4 2
0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Total 4 2
Zone X – Unshaded (No Mapped Flood Hazard)
Agricultural 44 26
Commercial 509 299
Government 748 1
Industrial 56 56
Institutional 51 36
Miscellaneous 63 31
Residential 5,657 4,211
Zone X (unshaded) Total 7,128 4,661
Zone D – Unmapped
Agricultural 0 0
Commercial 0 0
Government 0 0
Industrial 0 0
Institutional 0 0
Miscellaneous 0 0
Residential 0 0
Zone D (unmapped) Total 0 0
Grand Total 7,238 4,704
Source: FEMA 2010 DFIRM, Nevada County 2016/2017 Parcel/Assessor’s Data Population at Risk
The DFIRM flood zones were overlayed on the parcel layer. Those residential parcel centroids that intersect the severity zones were counted and multiplied by the 2010 Census Bureau average household factors for Nevada City. According to this analysis, there is a total population of 41 residents of the City at risk to flooding, 37 in the 1% and 4 in the 0.2% annual chance floodplain. This is shown in Table B-16.
Table B-16 City of Nevada City – Count of Improved Residential Parcels and Population by Flood Zone
Flood Zone Improved Residential Parcels Population*
A 16 33
AE 1 2
AE Floodway 1 2
Total 1% Annual Chance 18 37
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-31
Flood Zone Improved Residential Parcels Population*
Shaded X (0.2% Annual Chance) 2 4
Source: FEMA 2010 DFIRM, Nevada County 2016/2017 Parcel/Assessor’s Data, US Census Bureau * Average household populations from the 2010 US Census were used: Nevada City – 2.09.
Critical Facilities at Risk
An analysis was performed on the critical facility inventory in Nevada City in identified FEMA DFIRMs.
GIS was used to determine whether the facility locations intersect a DFIRM flood hazard area, and if so, which zone it intersects. Details of critical facilities in the floodplain in Nevada City are shown in Figure B-5 and Table B-17. As shown on the table and figure, Nevada City has 4 critical facilities located in 1% annual chance and 0 critical facilities in the 0.2% annual chance DFIRM flood zones. Details of critical facility definition, type, name and address and jurisdiction by flood zone are listed in Appendix F. Note, as previously described, the mapped GIS data for the County’s critical facility layer only includes data for Category 1, Essential Services, and Category 2 – At-risk Populations, thus the Category 3, Hazardous Materials facilities, were not included in this analysis. However, given the number of facilities that use and store hazardous materials in the City, there are likely some that are present within identified floodplains.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-32
Figure B-5 City of Nevada City – Critical Facilities and Flood Zones Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-33
Table B-17 City of Nevada City – Critical Facilities and Flood Zones Flood Zone / Critical Facility Category Critical Facility Type Critical Facility Count 1% Annual Chance Flood
Essential Services
Airport 0
Bridge 4
Church 0
Fire 0
Government Building 0
Hospital 0
School 0
Shelter 0
Total 4
1% Annual Chance Flood Total 4
Source: FEMA 2010 DFIRM; Nevada County GIS
Historical, Cultural, and Natural Resources at Risk
The City of Nevada City has significant cultural and natural resources located throughout the City as previously described. Vulnerability analysis of these resources was not possible due to data limitations.
However, anything located inside the 1% or 0.2% annual chance floodplain would potentially be vulnerable.
Insurance Coverage, Claims Paid, and Repetitive Losses
The City of Nevada City joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on February 3, 2010. The City does not participate in CRS program. NFIP data indicates that as of August 19, 2016, there were 11 flood insurance policies in force in the City, $1,312,900 of coverage, and $14,038 in annual premiums. Of the 11 policies, 2 were residential (single-family homes), 6 were multi family, and 3 were nonresidential. 1 of the policies were in A zones; the remaining 10 were in B, C, and X zones. The GIS parcel analysis detailed above identified 18 improved parcels in the 100-year flood zone. 1 policies for 18 improved parcels in the 100-year floodplain equates to insurance coverage of 5.3 percent.
There has been 1 historical claim for flood losses totaling $3,572.37; however, details on the flood zone or type of property were unavailable. There are no repetitive loss (RL), severe repetitive loss (SRL), or substantial damage claims for structures in the City.
California Department of Water Resources Best Available Maps (BAM) The FEMA regulatory maps provide just one perspective on flood risks in Nevada County. Senate Bill 5 (SB 5), enacted in 2007, authorized the California DWR to develop the Best Available Maps (BAM) displaying 1% and 0.5% (200-year) annual chance floodplains for areas located within the Nevada-San Joaquin (SAC-SJ) Valley watershed. This effort was completed by DWR in 2008. DWR has expanded the BAM to cover all counties in the State and to include 0.2% annual chance floodplains.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-34
Different than the FEMA DFIRMs which have been prepared to support the NFIP and reflect only the 1$ annual chance flood risk, the BAMs are provided for informational purposes and are intended to reflect current 1%, 0.5% (200-year) as applicable, and 0.2% annual chance flood risks using the best available data. The 100-year floodplain limits on the BAM are a composite of multiple 1% annual chance floodplain mapping sources. It is intended to show all currently identified areas at risk for a 100-year flood event, including FEMA’s 1% annual chance floodplains. The BAM are comprised of different engineering studies performed by FEMA, Corps, and DWR for assessment of potential 1%, 0.5%, and 0.2% annual chance floodplain areas. These studies are used for different planning and/or regulatory applications, and for each flood frequency may use varied analytical and quality control criteria depending on the study type requirements.
The value in the BAMs is that they provide a bigger picture view of potential flood risk to the City than that provided in the FEMA DFIRMs. This provides the community and residents with an additional tool for understanding potential flood hazards not currently mapped as a regulated floodplain. Improved awareness of flood risk can reduce exposure to flooding for new structures and promote increased protection for existing development. Informed land use planning will also assist in identifying levee maintenance needs and levels of protection. By including the FEMA 1% annual chance floodplain, it also supports identification of the need and requirement for flood insurance. The BAM map for Nevada City is shown in Figure B-6.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-35
Figure B-6 City of Nevada City Best Available Map
Source: California DWR
Legend explanation: Blue - FEMA 1%, Orange – Local 100-Year (developed from local agencies), Red – DWR 1%r (Awareness floodplains identify the 1% annual chacne flood hazard areas using approximate assessment procedures.), Pink – USACE 1% (2002 Sac and San Joaquin River Basins Comp Study), Yellow – USACE 0.5% (2002 Sac and San Joaquin River Basins Comp Study), Tan – FEMA 0.2%, Grey – Local 0.2% (developed from local agencies), Purple – USACE 0.2%(2002 Sac and San Joaquin River Basins Comp Study)
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-36
Future Development
The City enforces their floodplain ordinance. If any development is to occur in the floodplain, it would have to conform to the elevation standards of the City’s floodplain ordinance. More information of the floodplain ordinance can be found in Section B.6.1 below.
Flood: Localized Stormwater Flooding
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Highly Likely
Vulnerability–Medium
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
Nevada City has reoccurring flooding at natural water courses (two creeks and five ravines) that flow through historic areas of the City. In particular, Little Deer Creek, Deer Creek, and Oregon Ravine have had flooding for storms at 10-yr or greater frequency. In addition to impacts on businesses and private properties, heavy storm flows have impacted City Streets including the ‘Plaza’ intersection of Broad/Boulder/Sacramento/Nevada streets; and the intersection of Commercial/ Main / Union streets.
Pioneer Park has also had extensive flooding from Little Deer Creek for storms at 10-yr or greater frequency. This has impacted recreation areas and City buildings and infrastructure at the park.
Past Occurrences
In the following years, 1986, 1995, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2016, 2017 – there have been several locations in the City that have been affected by localized flooding. Areas affected are:
➢ Little Deer Creek and Deer Creek - flooding at the ‘Plaza’, located at the intersection of Broad/Boulder/Sacramento/Nevada streets
➢ Flooding in Oregon Ravine through downtown and along Commercial Street. Includes intersection of Commercial/ Main/Union streets
➢ Damage to Pioneer Park caused by flooding from overflow from Little Deer Creek, with resulting damage to the tennis courts, baseball diamond and horse shoe pits. ➢ Failure of an underground culvert that connects Deer Creek and Little Deer Creek in a parking lot at the intersection of Sacramento Street and Broad Street resulting in failure of the parking lot surface.
Residential flooding has occurred in the past primarily as a result of clogged drainage ditches and seasonal dry creeks. When flooding does occur, it is usually confined to a portion of the property and recedes usually within a few minutes to a few hours.
Vulnerability to Localized Flooding
Flooding and other issues caused by severe weather events, primarily heavy rains and thunderstorms, can often pose a risk to the community. Primary concerns include impacts to infrastructure that provides a means of ingress and egress throughout the community. Table B-18 identifies known and past occurrences of such areas and the associated problems encountered. This list is an initial inventory of key problem areas and is not intended to be a complete inventory of all problems and locations associated with severe weather events and localized flooding in the City of Nevada City.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-37
Table B-18 City of Nevada City’s Road List of Localized Flooding Problem Areas Road Name Flooding Pavement
Deterioration
Washout High
Water
Landslide/
Mudslide
Debris Downed
Trees
Broad/Boulder Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Commercial/Main Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Pioneer Park Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Source: City of Nevada City
Future Development
Future development in the City will add more impervious surfaces and need to drain those waters. The City will need to be proactive to ensure that increased development has proper siting and drainage for stormwaters. The risk of localized flooding to future development can also be minimized by accurate recordkeeping of repetitive localized storm activity. Mitigating the root causes of the localized stormwater flooding will reduce future risks of losses.
Hazardous Materials Transportation
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Unlikely
Vulnerability–Medium
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
Hazardous materials include a wide variety of substances commonly used in households and businesses.
Used motor oil, paint, solvents, lawn care and gardening products, household cleaners, gasoline and refrigerants are among the diverse range of substances classified as hazardous materials. Nearly all businesses and residences generate some amount of hazardous waste; certain businesses and industries generate larger amounts of such substances, including gas stations, automotive service and repair shops, printers, dry cleaners and photo processors. Hospitals, clinics and laboratories generate medical waste, which is also potentially hazardous.
Use, storage and transportation of hazardous wastes is heavily regulated by federal, State and local agencies, including the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, which is authorized to implement the regulations of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. The Nevada County Environmental Health Department monitors commercial storage and use of hazardous materials, including issuing permits for use and storage of significant quantities of hazardous materials or substances.
Highways and railways constitute a major threat due to the myriad chemicals and hazardous substances, including radioactive materials, transported in vehicles, trucks, and rail cars. Much of the hazardous materials transported through Nevada County are carried by truck on the State Highway, railway systems, and underground pipelines. In the City, highways 20 and 49 carry hazardous materials.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-38
Past Occurrences
There have been no federal or state disaster declarations for hazardous materials transportation releases in the City of Nevada City.
Vulnerability to Hazardous Materials Transportation
Values at Risk
It is often quite difficult to quantify the potential losses from human-caused hazards, such as that associated with a hazardous material transportation release or spill. While buildings within the City have a tangible dollar value, loss from a human-caused hazard such as a release of hazardous materials often inflicts an even greater toll on a community, both economically and emotionally. The impact to identified assets will vary from event to event and depend on the type, location, and nature of a specific hazardous material incident. Given the difficulty in quantifying the losses to Nevada City associated with a hazardous materials transporation release, this section focuses on analyzing key City assets relative to the hazardous materials sites and transportation corridors (highway, rail, and pipeline).
An analysis of the potential vulnerability of the City to a transportation-related hazardous materials release was conducted using GIS within identified transportation corridors. To evaluate the areas most vulnerable, a one mile buffer was applied to both sides of Interstate 80 and State Routes 20, 49, 89, 174, and 267; the Union Pacific railroad tracks (which roughly parallel I-80) and the Kinder Morgan petroleum pipeline. The result is a two-mile buffer zone around each transportation corridor that is used for risk-analysis. More information on this methodology can be found in Section 4.3.10 of the Base Plan. The buffer zone and residential parcels at risk are shown in Figure B-7.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-39
Figure B-7 City of Nevada City – Residential Parcels in Hazardous Materials Buffer Zones Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-40
Populations at Risk
To determine the populations at risk in Nevada City from a transportation-related hazardous materials release within identified transportation corridors, an analysis was performed using GIS to determine the residential population that resides within the two-mile buffer zone of the highway, railroad, and pipeline corridors. Using GIS, the buffered corridor was overlaid on the improved residential parcel data and results tabulated for the City of Nevada City as found in Table B-19. Those parcel centroids that intersect the buffered corridor were counted and multiplied by the 2010 Census Bureau average household factors for the City. According to this analysis, there is a total population of 4,496 in the buffered corridor. All of these are in highway corridors, none are in rail or pipeline corridors.
Table B-19 City of Nevada City – Populations at Risk in Hazardous Materials Corridors Jurisdiction Residential Parcels Population
Nevada City 2,151 4,496
Source: Cal Trans, Nevada County GIS, US Census Bureau
* Census Bureau 2010 average household sizes are: Nevada City – 2.09 Historical, Cultural, and Natural Resources at Risk
The City of Nevada City has significant cultural and natural resources located throughout the City as previously described. Vulnerability analysis of these resources was not possible due to data limitations.
However, any resource in the buffer zone would be potentially at risk.
Critical Facilities
To determine the critical facilities at risk from a transportation-related hazardous materials release within identified transportation corridors, an analysis was performed using GIS to determine the facilities located within the two-mile buffer zone of the highway and railroad corridors. Using GIS, the buffered corridor was overlaid on the Nevada County critical facilities layer and results tabulated for the City, shown in Figure B-8 and detail in Table B-20. There are 58 facilities in the buffered corridor in the City. All of these are in highway corridors, none are in rail or pipeline corridors. Note, as previously described, the mapped GIS data for the County’s critical facility layer only includes data for Category 1, Essential Services, and Category 2 – At-risk Populations, thus the Category 3, Hazardous Materials facilities, were not included in this analysis.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-41
Figure B-8 City of Nevada City – Critical Facilities in Hazardous Materials Buffer Zones Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-42
Table B-20 City of Nevada City – Critical Facilities in Hazardous Materials Buffer Zones Critical Facility Type Critical Facility Count
Essential Services
Airport 0
Bridge 14
Church 9
Fire 3
Government Building 15
Hospital 0
School 0
Shelter 2
Essential Services Total 43
At Risk Populations
Airport 0
Bridge 0
Church 0
Fire 0
Government Building 4
Hospital 0
School 11
Shelter 0
At Risk Populations Total 15
Grand Total 58
Source: Cal Trans, National Pipeline Mapping System 2016, Nevada County GIS Future Development
Development will continue to happen within hazardous materials transportation zones. Those who choose to develop in these areas should be made aware of the risks associated with living within close proximity to a hazardous materials transportation route.
Landslides, Debris, and Mudflows
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Unlikely
Vulnerability–Medium
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
The susceptibility of an area to landslides depends on many variables including steepness of slope, type of slope material, structure and physical properties of materials, water content, amount of vegetation, and Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-43
proximity to areas undergoing rapid erosion or changes caused by human activities. These activities include mining, construction, and changes to surface drainage areas.
Landslides often accompany other natural hazard events, such as floods, wildfires, or earthquakes.
Landslides can occur slowly or very suddenly and can damage and destroy structures, roads, utilities, and forested areas, and can cause injuries and death.
Past Occurrences
There have been no disaster declarations associated with landslides in Nevada City. Further, although the City could not identify any specific landslide prone areas or past occurrences, the City noted that the potential for future damaging landslide events remains in the sloped areas of the City.
Vulnerability to Landslides, Debris and Mudflows
The City remains at risk to future landslide events. Landslides, debris flows, and mud flow impacts vary by location and severity of any given event and will likely only affect certain areas of the City during specific times. Based on the risk assessment, it is evident that landslides will continue to have potentially large economic impacts to certain areas. However, many of the landslides in the City are minor, localized events that are more of a nuisance than a disaster. Impacts that are not quantified, but can be anticipated in large future events, include:
➢ Injury and loss of life;
➢ Commercial and residential structural and property damage; ➢ Disruption of and damage to public infrastructure and services; ➢ Damage to roads/bridges resulting in loss of mobility; ➢ Significant economic impact (jobs, sales, tax revenue) to the community; ➢ Negative impact on commercial and residential property values; and ➢ Impact on the overall mental health of the community.
Future Development
Although new growth and development corridors could potentially fall in areas affected by risk of landslide, given the small chance of a major landslide and the building codes and erosion ordinance in effect, development in the landslide area will continue to occur.
Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Snow, and Freeze
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Occasional
Vulnerability–Medium
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
According to the WRCC, in the western portion of Nevada County, monthly average minimum temperatures from November through April range from the low to mid-30s. The lowest recorded daily extreme was 3°F on December 9, 1972. In a typical year, minimum temperatures fall below 32°F on 72.7 days with no days falling below 0°F. Average snowfall is 10.0 inches. The highest annual snowfall fell in Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-44
1972, when 26.7 inches fell. Highest monthly snowfall accumulation came in March of 1974, when 23.0 inches fell. Average snow depths in January through March fall at 1 inches.
Past Occurrences
A disaster declaration for Nevada County was issued by the state government in 1972 for freeze and severe weather conditions, however extreme cold, snow and freeze is an annual occurrence in the City and will continue to occur based on our geographic location in California.
Vulnerability to Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Snow, and Freeze Wintersnow storms, including strong winds and blizzard conditions can result in localized power and phone outages and closures of streets, highways, schools, businesses, and nonessential government operations.
During periods of heavy snow there is also an increase in the number and severity of traffic accidents.
People can become isolated in their homes and vehicles and are unable to receive essential services. Snow removal costs can impact budgets significantly. Heavy snowfall during winter can lead to flooding or landslides during the spring if the area snowpack melts too quickly and also create numerous challenges for emergency responders.
Extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm or is left in its wake. Prolonged exposure to cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and can be life-threatening. Infants and the elderly are most susceptible. Pipes may freeze and burst in homes or buildings that are poorly insulated or without heat.
Future Development
Future development built to code should be able to withstand snow loads from severe winter storms. Pipes at risk of freezing should be mitigated be either burying or insulating them from freeze as new facilities are improved or added. Current County codes provide such provisions for new construction. Vulnerability to extreme cold will increase as the average age of the population in the City shifts. Greater numbers of future senior citizens will result from the large number of baby boomers in the City as well as people retiring to the area.
Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms (Hail, Lightning/Wind/Tornadoes) Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Likely
Vulnerability–High
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
Storms in the Nevada City Planning Area are generally characterized by heavy rain often accompanied by strong winds and sometimes lightning and hail. Approximately 10 percent of the thunderstorms that occur each year in the United States are classified as severe. A thunderstorm is classified as severe when it contains one or more of the following phenomena: hail that is three-quarters of an inch or greater, winds in excess of 50 knots (57.5 mph), or a tornado. Heavy precipitation in the City falls mainly in the fall, winter, and spring months.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-45
Nevada County—West (Grass Valley Weather Station, Period of Record 1966 to 2016) According to the WRCC, average annual precipitation in the western side of Nevada County is 53.26 inches per year. The highest recorded annual precipitation is 94.77 inches in 1983; the highest recorded precipitation for a 24-hour period is 7.02 inches on December 31, 2005. The lowest recorded annual precipitation was 16.51 inches in 1976.
Past Occurrences
Heavy rains and severe storms are not stranger to Nevada City. These events occur annually in Nevada City and will continue.
Vulnerability to Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms (Hail, Lightning/Wind/Tornadoes)
According to historical hazard data, severe weather is an annual occurrence in Nevada City. Damage and disaster declarations related to severe weather have occurred and will continue to occur in the future. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are the most frequent type of severe weather occurrences. Wind and lightning often accompany these storms and have caused damage in the past. However, actual damage associated with the primary effects of severe weather have been limited. It is the secondary hazards caused by weather, such as floods, fire, and agricultural losses that have had the greatest impact on the City.
Future Development
New critical facilities should be built to withstand hail damage, lightning, and thunderstorm winds. While minimal damages have occurred to critical facilities in the past due to lightning, hail, or high winds and tornadoes, there still remains future risk. With development occurring in the region, future losses to new development may occur.
Subsidence
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Unlikely
Vulnerability–Medium
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
Subsidence, the sinking of the ground due to the movement of underground material causing a shift or collapse, is a concern to the Nevada County Planning Area. There are several major sources of subsidence present in Nevada County: water drawdown, abandoned mines, karst and any underground voids caused by a variety of factors including underground utilities and culverts. One of the primary sources for the City, abandoned mines, had data available to conduct additional analysis of possible locations of future minerelated subsidence, and is thus the focus of the remainder of this section. Past mining activities have created surface subsidence in some areas and have created the potential for subsidence in other areas. Nevada County is home to many abandoned mines.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-46
A substantial portion of the Nevada City area is underlain by a deep, extensive labyrinth of abandoned mine tunnels. Dozens of mining claims were worked in the Nevada City area during the heyday of gold mining.
Some were large, mechanized operations. Most were small and more labor-intensive.
Past Occurrences
There have been no disaster declarations related to subsidence in Nevada City.
Vulnerability to Subsidence
Values at Risk
GIS was used to determine the possible impacts of flooding within the City of Nevada City. The methodology described in Section 4.3.15 of the Base Plan was followed in determining structures and values at risk known mine areas. Areas susceptible to subsidence based on the historic mining operations (a mine inventory) are shown in Figure B-9 and detailed in Table B-21 and Table B-22. Table B-23 shows the property use, improved parcel count, improved values, estimated contents, total values and estimated loss of parcels that fall in a known mine area in the City.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-47
Figure B-9 City of Nevada City – Subsidence (Known Mine) Inventory Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-48
Table B-21 City of Nevada City – Mine Types and Counts
Jurisdiction / Mine Type Mine Count
Borrow Pit 0
Building 3
Diggings 0
Dredger Tailings 0
Gravel Pit 0
Intricate Surface Area 0
Mine Shaft 2
Mine Tunnel 1
Open Pit 0
Placer Diggings 0
Prospect 1
Quarry 0
Strip Mine 0
Tailings 0
Tailings Pond 0
Grand Total 7
Source: TOMS 2011
Table B-22 City of Nevada City – Mine Names Located on Affected Parcels Mine Name Mine Count
Banner Mtn Mine 2
Gracie Mine 1
Unknown 4
Grand Total 7
Source: TOMS 2011
Table B-23 City of Nevada City – Parcel County and Values at Risk from Subsidence (Known Mine Inventory) by Property Use with Content Replacement Values Property Use Total
Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Government 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-49
Property Use Total
Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Residential 4 4 $754,953 $1,048,683 $524,342 $2,327,978 Total 4 4 $754,953 $1,048,683 $524,342 $2,327,978
Source: TOMS 2011, Nevada County 2016/2017 Parcel/Assessor’s Data Population at Risk
The known mine areas were overlayed on the parcel layer. Those residential parcel centroids that intersect the known mine areas were counted and multiplied by the 2010 Census Bureau average household factors for Nevada City. According to this analysis, there is a total population of 8 residents of the City at risk to known mine areas. This is shown in Table B-24.
Table B-24 City of Nevada City – Count of Improved Residential Parcels and Population in Subsidence (Known Mine Inventory) Areas
Improved Residential Parcels Population*
4 8
Source: FEMA 2010 DFIRM, Nevada County 2016/2017 Parcel/Assessor’s Data, US Census Bureau * Average household populations from the 2010 US Census were used: Nevada City– 2.09.
Historical, Cultural, and Natural Resources at Risk
The Nevada City Planning Area has significant historical, cultural, and natural resources located throughout the County as previously described. Risk analysis of these resources was not possible due to data limitations. However, any resource that falls into an abandoned mine area could be at risk.
Critical Facilities at Risk
A separate analysis was performed on the critical facility inventory for the Nevada County Planning Area including all jurisdictions to determine critical facilities in known mine areas. Using GIS, the mine inventory data were overlayed on the critical facility GIS layer. There are no critical facilities in the known mine areas in Nevada City. Note, as previously described, the mapped GIS data for the County’s critical facility layer only includes data for Category 1, Essential Services, and Category 2 – At-risk Populations, thus the Category 3, Hazardous Materials facilities, were not included in this analysis. H Future Development
Many of the subsidence and mine areas in the City are known, but many still remain unknown and untracked. The risk of subsidence to future development can be minimized by accurate recordkeeping and tracking of previously unknown abandoned mines. Knowing these locations and choosing not to develop in those areas or mitigating against future issues will reduce future risks of losses due to subsidence.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-50
Wildfire (smoke, tree mortality, conflagration)
Likelihood of Future Occurrence–Highly Likely
Vulnerability–High
Hazard Profile and Problem Description
Three types of fires are of concern to the City of Nevada City: wildland, wildland urban interface, and, to a lesser extent, structural fires. According to the Safety Element of Nevada City’s General Plan, wildland and urban interface fires have occurred close to or encroached into the City, especially in the heavily fueled areas to the east and south. Urban structural fires have been due largely to human accidents, with are the older buildings in the City business districts the most vulnerable.
The drought and water shortage events in 2014 through 2016 caused the City to be at greater risk to wildfire due to stress placed on the forested areas in and around the City. Between the drought and the beetles, many trees in the area died, which increases the risk of fire due to the increased fire fuel load in and around the City.
Past Occurrences
Nevada City is surrounded by natural wooded areas and open space. Wildfires have affected the City on an annual basis with the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas. According to the 2011 LHMP, from 1950 to 2011 there were no past occurrences directly in Nevada City, however with the terrain, climate, rainfall, and forest land/urban mix, it is a certainty that significant wildland fires are going to continue as a threat Vulnerability to Wildfire
Wildland fire is a serious concern to Nevada City. Many of the roadways in the city are not city maintained roads so there are a great number of single lane roads and double lane roads that are not to current standards for city maintained roads. Many residential parcels have driveways that are also only single lane, some paved but most not, that may have only sporadic clearing of encroaching vegetation.
A second and probably more significant issue is the large amount of fuel load remaining on unincorporated lands. Nevada City is surrounded federal forest lands where fire suppression has been the recently, most dominant fire management strategy. Any fire in the unincorporated areas of Nevada County has a significant potential to become a catastrophic fire when wind, temperature and humidity can combine to enlarge fires very quickly.
Following the methodology described in Section 4.3.2 Vulnerability of Nevada County to specific hazards, a wildfire map for the City of Nevada City was created (see Figure B-10). Fire Severity Zones within the City ranges from high to very high, with most of the City in the very high severity zone.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-51
Figure B-10 City of Nevada City’s Fire Severity Zones
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-52
Values at Risk
GIS was used to determine the possible impacts of wildfire within the City of Nevada City. The methodology described in Section 4.3.16 of the Base Plan was followed in determining structures and values at risk in CAL FIRE fire hazard severity zones. Analysis results for Nevada City are shown in Table B-25, which summarizes total parcel counts, improved parcel counts, land values, structure values, and estimated contents values by occupancy type. The estimated contents replacement values are based on the CRV factors detailed in Table 4 35 in Section 4.3.1 of the Base Plan.
Table B-25 City of Nevada City– Count and Value of Parcels by Property Use and Fire Severity Zone with Contents Replacement Values
Fire Hazard Severity
Zone / Property Use
Total
Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel
Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value*
Very High
Agricultural 5 1 $267,882 $448,000 $448,000 $1,163,882
Commercial 252 203 $48,729,787 $89,276,521 $89,276,521 $227,282,829 Government 94 1 $148,458 $226,808 $226,808 $602,074
Industrial 20 20 $4,139,466 $11,850,950 $17,776,425 $33,766,841 Institutional 16 13 $1,071,530 $5,219,266 $5,219,266 $11,510,062 Miscellaneous 11 1 $804,566 $80,838 $80,838 $966,242
Residential 2,957 2,599 $280,198,276 $536,549,806 $268,274,903 $1,085,022,985 Total 3,355 2,838 $335,359,965 $643,652,189 $381,302,761 $1,360,314,915 High
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Government 1 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 22 14 $2,419,234 $4,479,816 $2,239,908 $9,138,958 Total 23 14 $2,419,234 $4,479,816 $2,239,908 $9,138,958 Moderate
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Government 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-53
Fire Hazard Severity
Zone / Property Use
Total
Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel
Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value*
Total 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Non-Wildland/Non-Urban
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Government 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Non-Very High
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Government 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Grand Total 3,378 2,852 $337,779,199 $648,132,005 $383,542,669 $1,369,453,873 Source: Nevada County 2016/2017 Parcel/Assessor’s Data, CAL FIRE Population at Risk
The fire hazard severity zone dataset was overlayed on the parcel layer. Those residential parcel centroids that intersect the severity zones were counted and multiplied by the 2010 Census Bureau average household factors for the City of Nevada City. According to this analysis, there is a total population of 5,461 residents of Nevada City at risk to high or very high wildfire risk. This is higher than the number of residents in the City, most likely due to one of the two following factors: the Census Bureau household size is an estimate and not entirely accurate, or that there are residential homes in the City that are second homes and not always occupied. In either instance, it can be assumed that the entire population of the City is in a high or higher fire hazard severity zone, or mapped into the non-very high areas. This is shown in Table B-26.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-54
Table B-26 City of Nevada City – Count of Improved Residential Parcels and Population by Fire Severity Zone
Fire Severity Zone Improved Residential Parcels Population* Very High 2,599 5,432
High 14 29
Moderate 0 0
Total 2,613 5,461
Source: Nevada County 2015 Parcel/Assessor’s Data, CAL FIRE * Average household populations for Nevada City (2.09) from the 2010 US Census were used Critical Facilities at Risk
Wildfire analysis was performed on the critical facility inventory in Nevada County and all jurisdictions.
GIS was used to determine whether the facility locations intersect a fire severity zone provided by CAL FIRE, and if so, which zone it intersects. There are 59 facilities in the high or very high fire severity zone in the City. These are shown in Figure B-11 and detailed in Table B-27. Details of critical facility definition, type, name and address and jurisdiction by fire severity zone are listed in Appendix F.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-55
Figure B-11 City of Nevada City – Critical Facilities in Fire Hazard Severity Zones Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-56
Table B-27 City of Nevada City – Critical Facilities in Fire Hazard Severity Zones Fire Hazard Severity Zones /
Critical Facility Category
Critical Facility Type Critical Facility Count
Very High
Essential Services
Airport 0
Bridge 14
Church 9
Fire 3
Government Building 15
Hospital 0
School 0
Shelter 2
Total 43
At Risk Populations
Airport 0
Bridge 0
Church 0
Fire 0
Government Building 4
Hospital 0
School 11
Shelter 0
Total 15
Very High Total 58
High
Essential Services
Airport 0
Bridge 1
Church 0
Fire 0
Government Building 0
Hospital 0
School 0
Shelter 0
Total 1
High Total 1
Grand Total 59
Source: CAL FIRE, Nevada County GIS
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-57
Historical, Cultural, or Natural Resources at Risk
Nevada City has substantial historical, cultural and natural resources located throughout the City. In addition, there are other natural resources at risk when wildland-urban interface fires occur. One is the watershed and ecosystem losses that occur from wildland fires. This includes impacts to water supplies and water quality as well as air quality. Another is the aesthetic value of the area. Major fires that result in visible damage detract from that value. Other assets at risk include wildland recreation areas, wildlife and habitat areas, and rangeland resources. The loss to these natural resources can be significant.
Future Development
Development will continue to occur in the wildfire severity areas; however, City ordinances for building in these areas are enforced. Population growth and development in Nevada City has recently slowed.
However, additional growth and development within the WUI areas of the City would place additional assets at risk to wildfire.
B.6 Capability Assessment
Capabilities are the programs and policies currently in use to reduce hazard impacts or that could be used to implement hazard mitigation activities. This capabilities assessment is divided into five sections:
regulatory mitigation capabilities, administrative and technical mitigation capabilities, fiscal mitigation capabilities, mitigation education, outreach, and partnerships, and other mitigation efforts.
B.6.1. Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities
Table B-28 lists regulatory mitigation capabilities, including planning and land management tools, typically used by local jurisdictions to implement hazard mitigation activities and indicates those that are in place in the City of Nevada City.
Table B-28 City of Nevada City’s Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities Plans
Y/N
Year
Does the plan/program address hazards?
Does the plan identify projects to include in the mitigation strategy?
Can the plan be used to implement mitigation actions?
Comprehensive/Master Plan Y The Safety Element addresses hazards.
Capital Improvements Plan Y Includes infrastructure improvements (limited by funding) Economic Development Plan Y Active Member with Economic Resource Council Local Emergency Operations Plan Y Fire/ Police
Continuity of Operations Plan
Transportation Plan Y Updated every five years by Nevada County Transportation Commission
Stormwater Management Plan/Program N The City does not have a current plan Engineering Studies for Streams Y In collaboration with Sierra Streams and Sierra Fund non-profit groups
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-58
Community Wildfire Protection Plan Y In coordination with County, CALFIRE Other special plans (e.g., brownfields
redevelopment, disaster recovery, coastal
zone management, climate change
adaptation)
Y Brownfileds cleanup in collaboration with Sierra Streams and Sierra Fund non-profit groups.
Water Conservation / Drought Plan developed in 2014
Building Code, Permitting, and
Inspections Y/N Are codes adequately enforced?
Building Code Y Version/Year: January 2016
Building Code Effectiveness Grading
Schedule (BCEGS) Score
N Score:
Fire department ISO rating: Y Rating: 03 / 3X
Site plan review requirements Y City Planning, Engineering and Fire Department Land Use Planning and Ordinances Y/N
Is the ordinance an effective measure for reducing hazard impacts?
Is the ordinance adequately administered and enforced?
Zoning ordinance Y Yes
Subdivision ordinance N
Floodplain ordinance Y Yes
Natural hazard specific ordinance
(stormwater, steep slope, wildfire)
Y Yes, implemented with development review in accordance with Municipal Code and Zoning requirements.
Flood insurance rate maps Y Updated by FEMA
Elevation Certificates Y If needed, provided by registered Land Surveyors Acquisition of land for open space and
public recreation uses
Y City acquired and privately designated as open space.
Erosion or sediment control program Y By Ordinance
Other
How can these capabilities be expanded and improved to reduce risk? Increase capacity through staffing, training, and enhanced coordination among all department and jurisdictions; emergency management/hazard specific program enhancements, training, and exercising; increased funding opportunities and capacity; and implementation of mitigation actions and projects.
Source: City of Nevada City
The City of Nevada City General Plan Program, 1986
The City of Nevada City General Plan Program serves as the blueprint for future growth and development and provides comprehensive planning for the future. It encompasses what the City is now, and what it intends to be, and provides the overall framework of how to achieve this future condition (see the discussion in Section 4.3.1 Growth and Development Trends).
The General Plan includes a Safety Element that focuses on safety issues to be considered in planning for the present and future development of the Nevada City Planning Area. Identified hazards include wildfire, geologic/seismic, flooding, and other natural and human-caused hazards. Mitigation-related goals, are presented below.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-59
Safety Element Goals
Goal 1 Protect the citizens and visitors of the City of Nevada City area from loss of life while protecting property and watershed resources from unwanted fires through preplanning, education, fire defense improvements, and fire suppression.
Goal 2 Protect the lives and property of the citizens of the City of Nevada City area from unacceptable risk resulting from flood hazards.
Goal 3 Minimize hazards to public health, safety, and welfare resulting from natural and man-made hazards.
Goal 4 Protect all residents from hazardous materials and the hazards associated with transport of such materials.
Goal 5 Maintain and enhance City emergency services.
City of Nevada City Disaster Plan, 2011
The City has a comprehensive Disaster plan in place to address an all hazards response within the City. It describes the roles and responsibilities of the City and outlines the requirements to respond to a disaster in California.
Mitigation Related Ordinances
The City has implemented a Floodplain Management Plan with regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry. Methods and provisions for reducing flood losses include:
➢ Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in damaging increases in erosion or flood heights or velocities; ➢ Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction;
➢ Control the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel flood waters;
➢ Control filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage; and ➢ Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert flood waters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas.
B.6.2. Administrative/Technical Mitigation Capabilities Table B-29 identifies the City department(s) responsible for activities related to mitigation and loss prevention in Nevada City.
Table B-29 City of Nevada City’s Administrative and Technical Mitigation Capabilities Administration Y/N
Describe capability
Is coordination effective?
Planning Commission Y
Mitigation Planning Committee N
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-60
Maintenance programs to reduce risk
(e.g., tree trimming, clearing drainage
systems)
Y Ongoing programs by City Public Works, Parks, and Fire Department. The City uses outside assistance from jail crews, conservation corp and other volunteer groups.
Mutual aid agreements Y Police and Fire
Other
Staff
Y/N
FT/PT
Is staffing adequate to enforce regulations?
Is staff trained on hazards and mitigation?
Is coordination between agencies and staff effective?
Chief Building Official Y Outsourced to Nevada County
Floodplain Administrator Y City Engineer
Emergency Manager Y City Assistant Manager
Community Planner Y City Planner
Civil Engineer Y City Engineer
GIS Coordinator Y City Engineer
Other
Technical
Warning systems/services
(Reverse 911, outdoor warning signals)
Y 911 through police dept
Hazard data and information Y Through County OES
Grant writing Y By City with assistance from County OES Hazus analysis N
Other
How can these capabilities be expanded and improved to reduce risk? Increase capacity through staffing, training, and enhanced coordination among all department and jurisdictions; emergency management/hazard specific program enhancements, training, and exercising; increased funding opportunities and capacity; and implementation of mitigation actions and projects.
Source: City of Nevada City
B.6.3. Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities
Table B-30 identifies financial tools or resources that the City could potentially use to help fund mitigation activities.
Table B-30 City of Nevada City’s Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities Funding Resource
Access/
Eligibility
(Y/N)
Has the funding resource been used in past
and for what type of activities?
Could the resource be used to fund future
mitigation actions?
Capital improvements project funding Y The City Capital Improvement Plan is updated annually as required by Govt. Code. This
includes projects with funding sources
identified and projects that are necessary but
lack financial backing.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-61
Funding Resource
Access/
Eligibility
(Y/N)
Has the funding resource been used in past
and for what type of activities?
Could the resource be used to fund future
mitigation actions?
Authority to levy taxes for specific purposes Y Voter Approved Tax Measure B approved in 2016 provides funding for additional City
Fire and Police staff
Fees for water, sewer, gas, or electric services Y
Impact fees for new development Y This is used as a funding source to mitigate the effects of new development on existing
infrastructure and City services.
Storm water utility fee N
Incur debt through general obligation bonds and/or
special tax bonds
Y
Incur debt through private activities N
Community Development Block Grant Y
Other federal funding programs Y Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program is used for street and
sidewalk improvements.
Highway Bridge Replacement & Rehabilitation
Program (HBRRP) is used for bridges
State funding programs Y CAL FIRE Fire Prevention Grant was used in 2017 for High Tree Mortality Areas
CABY grant for the Integrated Regional Water
Management (IRWM) group Prop 184 used for
water facility improvements in 2014 -2017
Other
How can these capabilities be expanded and improved to reduce risk? Funding for infrastructure is needed due to the fact that much of the City was constructed more than 100 years ago.
Narrow roads, aging water lines, sewer lines and drainage systems are in need of improvement and rehabilitation.
Source: City of Nevada City
B.6.4. Mitigation Education, Outreach, and Partnerships Table B-31 identifies education and outreach programs and methods already in place that could be/or are used to implement mitigation activities and communicate hazard-related information. More information can be found below the table.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-62
Table B-31 City of Nevada City’s Mitigation Education, Outreach, and Partnerships Program/Organization Yes/No
Describe program/organization and how
relates to disaster resilience and mitigation.
Could the program/organization help
implement future mitigation activities?
Local citizen groups or non-profit organizations
focused on environmental protection, emergency
preparedness, access and functional needs
populations, etc.
Y
Ongoing public education or information program
(e.g., responsible water use, fire safety, household
preparedness, environmental education)
Y Informational brochures from the Nevada
County OES office
Natural disaster or safety related school programs Y School programs are provided by City police and fire department
StormReady certification N
Firewise Communities certification
Public-private partnership initiatives addressing
disaster-related issues
Y
Other
How can these capabilities be expanded and improved to reduce risk? Increase capacity through staffing, training, and enhanced coordination among all department and jurisdictions; emergency management/hazard specific program enhancements, training, and exercising; increased funding opportunities and capacity; and implementation of mitigation actions and projects.
Source: City of Nevada City
B.6.5. Other Mitigation Efforts
The City of Nevada City has many other ongoing mitigation efforts that include the following:
➢ Annual assessment of capital improvement needs and research of available funding sources. ➢ A Brushing and Debris Chipping and ladder fuel reduction on public lands and street rights-of-way is currently ongoing.
➢ Fuel Management for Wildfire Mitigation Fuel Break at Sugarloaf Mountain and Deer Creek Environs was implemented in 2012.
➢ In 2013, as part of Prop 84 CABY, Nevada City installed an Inter-Tie with NID water district near Gracie Road for Water System Reliability.
➢ A Fire Suppression System being implemented as part of building permits for renovation of existing Buildings in Historic Downtown is ongoing and in process.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-63
B.7 Mitigation Strategy
As part of the overall HMPC for the development of this multi-jurisdictional Nevada County LHMP Update, each jurisdiction followed the mitigation strategy development process detailed in Chapter 5 and Appendix C of the Base Plan, which included the development of plan goals and objectives and the resulting mitigation actions and projects.
B.7.1. Mitigation Goals and Objectives
The City of Nevada City adopts the hazard mitigation goals and objectives developed by the HMPC and described in Chapter 5 Mitigation Strategy.
B.7.2. NFIP Mitigation Strategy
The City of Nevada City joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on February 3, 2010. As a participant of the NFIP, the City of Nevada City has administered floodplain management regulations that meet the minimum requirements of the NFIP. The management program objective is to protect people and property within the City. The City of Nevada City will continue to comply with the requirements of the NFIP in the future.
In addition, the City of Nevada City actively participates with the County of Nevada to address local NFIP issues through a regional approach. Many of the program activities are the same for the City of Nevada City as for Nevada County since participation at the County level includes all local jurisdictions.
The City’s regulatory activities apply to existing and new development areas of the City; implementing flood protection measures for existing structures and new development, and maintaining drainage systems.
The goal of the program is to enhance public safety, and reduce impacts and losses while protecting the environment. The City’s Municipal Code has a Flood Damage Prevention Section under the Zoning Ordinance that regulates construction in the floodplain. The City intends to continue to implement the ordinance and participate at the regional level with Nevada County implementing appropriate measures to mitigate exposure and damages within designated flood prone areas.
The National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS which are to reduce flood losses, facilitate accurate insurance rating, and promote the awareness of flood insurance. The City of Nevada City is not a current participant in the CRS program.
More information about the floodplain administration in the City of Nevada City can be found in Table B-32.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-64
Table B-32 City of Nevada City Compliance with NFIP
NFIP Topic Comments
Insurance Summary
How many NFIP policies are in the community? What is the total premium and coverage?
11 policies
$14,038 in annual premiums
$1,312,900 of coverage in force
How many claims have been paid in the community? What is the total amount of paid claims? How many of the claims were for substantial damage?
1 paid losses
$3,572.37 in paid claims
0 substantial damage claims
How many structures are exposed to flood risk within the community? 23 (1% annual chance flood) 2 (0.2% annual chance flood)
Describe any areas of flood risk with limited NFIP policy coverage Staff Resources
Is the Community Floodplain Administrator or NFIP Coordinator certified? No Provide an explanation of NFIP administration services (e.g., permit review, GIS, education or outreach, inspections, engineering capability) The City uses outside consultants for
this on an as-needed basis.
What are the barriers to running an effective NFIP program in the community, if any?
No
Compliance History
Is the community in good standing with the NFIP? Yes
Are there any outstanding compliance issues (i.e., current violations)? No When was the most recent Community Assistance Visit (CAV) or Community Assistance Contact (CAC)?
?
Is a CAV or CAC scheduled or needed? ?
Regulation
When did the community enter the NFIP? 2/3/2010
Are the FIRMs digital or paper? Digital
Do floodplain development regulations meet or exceed FEMA or State minimum requirements? If so, in what ways?
Yes, through implementation of the
Floodplain Management Plan and our
Zoning and Planning approval process
Provide an explanation of the permitting process. All projects are reviewed by City Departments and Planning
Commission in accordance with our
Municipal Code which includes the
Floodplain Management Plan
Community Rating System
Does the community participate in CRS? N
What is the community’s CRS Class Ranking? N/A
What categories and activities provide CRS points and how can the class be improved?
N/A
Does the plan include CRS planning requirements? N/A
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-65
B.7.3. Mitigation Actions
The planning team for the City of Nevada City identified and prioritized the following mitigation actions based on the risk assessment. Background information and information on how each action will be implemented and administered, such as ideas for implementation, responsible office, potential funding, estimated cost, and timeline are also included.
It should be noted that many of the projects submitted by each jurisdiction in Table 5 2 in the Base Plan benefit all jurisdictions whether or not they are the lead agency. Further, many of these mitigation efforts are collaborative efforts among multiple local, state, and federal agencies. In addition, the public outreach action, as well as many of the emergency services actions, apply to all hazards regardless of hazard priority.
Collectively, this multi-jurisdictional mitigation strategy includes only those actions and projects which reflect the actual priorities and capacity of each jurisdiction to implement over the next 5-years covered by this plan. It should further be noted, that although a jurisdiction may not have specific projects identified for each priority hazard for the five year coverage of this planning process, each jurisdiction has focused on identifying those projects which are realistic and reasonable for them to implement and would like to preserve their hazard priorities should future projects be identified where the implementing jurisdiction has the future capacity to implement.
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of General Plan Hazards Addressed: All hazards
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Issue/Background: Local jurisdictional reimbursement for mitigation projects and cost recovery after a disaster is guided by Government Code Section 8685.9 (AB 2140). Specifically, this section requires that each jurisdiction adopt a local hazard mitigation plan (LHMP) in accordance with the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 as part of the Safety Element of its General Plan. Adoption of the LHMP into the Safety Element of the General Plan may be by reference or incorporation.
Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Safety Element of General Plan
Responsible Office: City of Nevada City Planning Department Priority (H, M, L): High
Cost Estimate: Jurisdictional board/staff time
Potential Funding: Local budgets
Benefits (avoided Losses): Incorporation of an adopted LHMP into the Safety Element of the General Plan will help jurisdictions maximize the cost recovery potential following a disaster.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-66
Schedule: As soon as possible
Action 2. Nevada City Tree Removal, Brushing and Debris Chipping Hazards Addressed: Multi-hazard: Tree Mortality (Drought and Bark Beetle Infestation), Fire Hazard, Flooding
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Issue/Background: Nevada City is surrounded by natural forested areas with approximately 300 acres of open space that is owned and managed by the City. Hazardous trees that pose a threat to public health and safety should be removed to address the risk and potential impact of wildfire to habitable structures and/or the potential to obstruct storm flows through natural drainage courses.
Project Description: Tree Removal, Brushing and Debris Chipping Program will be used to remove trees that are dead or are dying from invasion of bark beetle and drought conditions and trees that are hazardous.
This project will enhance and contribute to the City's ongoing effort to reduce fire fuel on the City's Open Space Parcels, provide safety for public and provide clear paths for natural drainage.
Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Environmental Review and CEQA Notice of Exemption to be completed by City staff.
Responsible Office: City of Nevada City
Priority (H, M, L): High
Cost Estimate: $400,000
Potential Funding: Dept. of Water Resources, CALFIRE
Benefits (avoided Losses): Extensive loss of property and buildings due to fire.
Schedule: 2018-2023
Action 3. Nevada City Tree Management
Hazards Addressed: Multi-hazard
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Issue/Background: Annually, tree and/or branches fall from trees located on City property or public streets due to severe storm damage. This project would fund the assessment by a certified arborist; an annual maintenance plan would be created and followed to prevent trees and branches from falling unexpectedly.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-67
Project Description: Implement a program to annually monitor, remove and dispose of hazardous trees and branches.
Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Environmental Review and CEQA Notice of Exemption to be completed by City staff.
Responsible Office: City of Nevada City
Priority (H, M, L): High
Cost Estimate: $50,000
Potential Funding: TBD
Benefits (avoided Losses): Trees and/or branches falling put members of public and property at risk.
Schedule: 2017-2023
Action 4. Nevada City Storm Drain / Culvert Replacement for Oregon Ravine through downtown and along Commercial Street. Includes intersection of Commercial/ Main / Union streets Hazards Addressed: Flooding/Localized Flooding
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Issue/Background: During flood events the current drainage system overflows causing erosion to the surrounding area and flood damage to City Streets and private properties within the historic district.
Project Description: Replace storm drain pipes, culverts or inlets that are damaged, aging or deficient.
Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Environmental Review and CEQA Notice of Exemption to be completed by City staff.
Responsible Office: City of Nevada City
Priority (H, M, L): High
Cost Estimate: $1,000,000
Potential Funding: TBD
Benefits (avoided Losses): Damage to structures in the downtown area during a major flood event could far exceed the costs associated with completing this project.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-68
Schedule: 2017-2023
Action 5. Little Deer Creek and Deer Creek - the ‘Plaza’: intersection of Broad/Boulder/Sacramento/Nevada streets
Hazards Addressed: Flooding/Localized Flooding
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Issue/Background: During flood events the two converging creeks overtop banks, roadways and culverts causing stream bank erosion and flood damage to City Streets and private properties. This also results in closure of critical intersection of two arterial roadways and two collector roadways.
Project Description: Replace culverts, storm drain or inlets that are damaged, aging or deficient. Creek remediation to improve conveyance of storm flows. Replacement or realignment of concrete walls, bridge footings or piers where they are limiting capacity of the creek.
Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Environmental Review and CEQA Notice of Exemption to be completed by City staff.
Responsible Office: City of Nevada City
Priority (H, M, L): High
Cost Estimate: $2,000,000
Potential Funding: TBD
Benefits (avoided Losses): Damage to structures in the downtown area during a major flood event could far exceed the costs associated with completing this project.
Schedule: 2017-2023
Action 6. Little Deer Creek at Pioneer Park
Hazards Addressed: Flood damage to Pioneer Park
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Issue/Background: During flood events the creek overtops banks causing flood damage to City public park facilities. This also results in short term closure of roadways and parking areas at Pioneer Park.
Project Description: Creek restoration to reduce flood potential, and sediment delivery to the stream channel from unstable banks.
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-69
Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Environmental Review and CEQA Notice of Exemption to be completed by City staff.
Responsible Office: City of Nevada City
Priority (H, M, L): High
Cost Estimate: $500,000
Potential Funding: TBD
Benefits (avoided Losses): Damage to park facilities during a major flood event could far exceed the costs associated with completing this project.
Schedule: 2020
Action 7. Nevada City Water Intake Diversion
Hazards Addressed: Flooding
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Issue/Background: During high flows, water in the diversion intake is able to bypass the flow control gate and enter the pipeline, resulting an unregulated discharge into the pipeline to the City’s water treatment plant. The raw water then flows into a small intermediate concrete structure known as the "rock box" that prevents large gravel and rocks to pass into the sedimentation box located just downstream of the rock box.
During unregulated flows from the main diversion structure, water overflows the rock box, from washing out soils around the structure itself as well as the sedimentation box.
Project Description: The rock box needs to be modified with an overflow structure and pipe that prevents uncontrolled overflows, and routes the water directly back to the creek. The sedimentation box will also be improved forsettlement ofsmall debristhat passes through the rock box. Water flows will be routed through the rock box and sedimentation box in series prior to release into the raw water pipeline which conveys water to the reservoir.
Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Environmental Review and CEQA Notice of Exemption to be completed by City staff.
Responsible Office: City of Nevada City
Priority (H, M, L): High
Cost Estimate: $100,000
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-70
Potential Funding: TBD
Benefits (avoided Losses): Extensive savings in filter media and water treatment processes for public water use during and after storm events.
Schedule: 2020
Action 8. Nevada City Wastewater Treatment Plant Headworks Hazards Addressed: Flooding
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Issue/Background: During large storm events, the plant headworks is inundated with heavy sewer flows with large rocks and pipe fragments in the influent. This large debris can hit and puncture the mechanical screens. There is a bypass channel around the mechanical screens but this is a bottleneck and sandbags and pumps are used to keep high flow contained.
Project Description: Provide a rock trap structure prior to the screens to allow heavy debris to fall out so it can be removed before damaging equipment. Increase the size and capacity of the bypass channel and headworks.
Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Environmental Review and CEQA Notice of Exemption to be completed by City staff.
Responsible Office: City of Nevada City
Priority (H, M, L): High
Cost Estimate: $200,000
Potential Funding: TBD
Benefits (avoided Losses): Extensive savings in filter media, screens and wastewater treatment processes during and after storm events.
Schedule: 2020
Action 9. Nevada City Chlorine Gas System Replacement at Wastewater Plant Hazards Addressed: Hazardous Materials Leak
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 6
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
City of Nevada City Annex B-71
Project Description: Chlorine gas is used as part of the treatment process at the City of Nevada City Wastewater Plant. Chlorine gas is highly toxic and dangerous and an accidental release would place thousands of people at risk. The existing gas chlorine system at the wastewater treatment plants has the potential of a chlorine gas release and this potential would be mitigated by replacement with an alternative treatment system.
Issue/Background: Conversion of wastewater facilities to remove all gaseous chlorine chemical feed systems and replace this with a new storage tank and piping for Sodium Hypochlorite. This would also require converting the chemical storage building or relocating facilities to accommodate the new tank.
Other Alternatives: Liquid Chlorine (not recommended due to other hazardous risk factors) Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Environmental Review and CEQA Notice of Exemption to be completed by City staff.
Responsible Office: City of Nevada City
Priority (H, M, L): High
Cost Estimate: TBD
Potential Funding: $800,000
Benefits (avoided Losses): Avoidance of catastrophic impact for chlorine gas release.
Schedule: 2019
Action 10. Nevada City Water Line Replacement
Hazards Addressed: Wildfire
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Issue/Background: The typical life span of a water main is 75 to 100 years, depending on the materials, soils, and other factors. The City's water distribution system consists of approximately 20 linear miles of water mains, of which approximately 25,000 linear feet (or 4.8 linear miles) are greater than 140 years old.
The aging pipe has minimized capacity for fire flow due to internal corrosion and carbuncles.
Project Description: Replace 4,000 linear feet (or 0.75 linear miles annually) of water main, including hydrants and water service connections for domestic and fire sprinkler use.
Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Environmental Review and CEQA Notice of Exemption to be completed by City staff.
Responsible Office: City of Nevada City
Nevada County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
August 2017
Priority (H, M, L): High
Cost Estimate: $6,000,000
Potential Funding: TBD
Benefits (avoided Losses): Fire prevention for residents and businesses within the City.
Schedule: 2017-2023
Appendix C-Noise Element/Exposure Background Report
Background Report & Technical Appendices
Nevada City General Plan Health & Safety/ Noise
Element Update
Nevada City, California
BAC Job # 2021-172
Prepared For:
The City of Nevada City
317 Broad Street Nevada City,
CA 95959
Prepared By:
Bollard Acoustical Consultants, Inc.
Paul Bollard, President
December 7, 2022
Bollard Acoustical Consultants, Inc. (BAC) • P.O. Box 7968 • Auburn, CA 95604 • (530) 537-2328 • BACNOISE.COM Bollard Acoustical Consultants, Inc. (BAC)
Background Report & Technical Appendices Nevada City General Plan Safety Element/Noise Exposure Section