2023MAY-4 PM 3=04' APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
Fi LE D .
OFFICE o:-H1E CITY CLERK
·OAKLAND ;[~<-{J- \_
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 8 9 7 1 8 C.M.S.
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INTRODUCEDBYCOUNCILMEMBERKALB
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SB 571 (ALLEN), WHICH WOULD REQUIRE PROPONENTS OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT (1) REQUIRE THE
EVACUATION OF 40 OR MORE VEHICLES AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND (2)
ARE WITHIN A HIGH OR VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE, TO
SUBMIT WITH ITS APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT AN EVACUATION
PLAN, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE A WILDFIRE BEHAVIOR STUDY, A
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STUDY, AND THE BEST AVAILABLE ROUTES FOR EVACUATION EGRESS. THE EVACUATION PLAN WOULD BE SUBJECT TO
INDEPENDENT APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE AGENCIES THAT HA VE JURISDICTIONAL
RESPONSE AUTHORITY OVER THE RELEVANT AREA, AND THE
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IF THE PROPOSED EVACUATION
ROUTING UTILIZES STATE OR FEDERAL HIGHWAYS
WHEREAS, California is at a confluence of crises: a severe housing shortage and the most destructive wildfire seasons in s~te history; and
WHEREAS , Oakland experienced a devastating wildfire in 1991 which claimed 25 lives; and
WHEREAS, our need for more housing may necessitate continued development across the state, including in areas of heightened risk for wildfire; and WHEREAS, as climate change continues its advance, California ' s seasonal hazards grow in intensity, frequency, and destructiveness; and
WHEREAS, according to CAL FIRE, six of the seven largest wildfires in California history have occurred since the 2020 season; and
WHEREAS, this bill ensures that these imperiled communities be designed with the reality of a potential wildfire emergency in mind by requiring a robust evacuation plan created in coordination with the relevant emergency authorities charged with evacuation; and 1 WHEREAS, failed evacuation planning is at the heart of how wildfires lead to loss of life;-and
WHEREAS, this bill requires that, during the planning and approval process of new developments in high or very high fi.re severity zones, proponents must create a thorough evacuation plan that identifies the best available routes for evacuation egress based on specified metrics along with necessary safeguards; and
WUEREAS, the bill also requires tha,t proponents of qualifying developments conduct a traffic engineerip.g study along proposed routes, di~play fire modeling possibilities through a wildfire behavior study, and Identify areas of safe refuge in the event evacuation becomes unsafe or impossible; and
WHEREAS, before any person · occupies a new development, this bill requires counties to review, ~onsolidate and make data elements of the evacuation plans electronically available to the public; · and
WHEREAS, this bill requires the proponents of new development to submit proposed evacuation plans for sign-off from entities responsible for getting people to safety in a.wildfire emergency such ~ local fire agencies,_ local government, law enforcement, and the California Highway Patrol if the proposed evacuation routing utilizes . state or federal highways; now, therefore, be it ·
RESOLVED: That the City Council directs the City A~tor or his designee to immediately distribute this Resolution upon its adoption to Governor Gavin Newsom and State Senator Allen.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY TIIE FOLLOWING VOIB:
A YES - FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, AND PRESIDENT FORTIJNATO BAS ~
NOES- 'Pf
ABSENT~ {/ ff
ABSTENTION -!iJ '//-
3267601v1
ATTEST:._----b~=---:-===:-:--::=-±==------
ASHA ED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California