CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
4/10/2023
1 SUBJECT:
Continuation of Proclamation of Local Emergency related to December 2022/January 2023 Winter Storm Events
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept report and make a determination that conditions of local emergency continue to exist related to the December 2022 / January 2023 Winter Storm Events.
STAFF CONTACT:
Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager
(650) 738-7409
[email protected]
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION:
On January 4, 2023, the City Manager, acting in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency pursuant to PMC 4-2.05(a) and executed the "Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency" ("Proclamation"). The City Council first ratified this proclamation by adopting Resolution No. 01-2023 (Attachment A) at its regular meeting of January 9, 2023, and approved its continuation at the regular meeting of February 13, 2023.
Pursuant to Government Code section 8630(c), the City Council must review the need for continuing the local emergency at least every 60 days until the City Council terminates the local emergency. Conditions of local emergency still exist since the City Council first acted to ratify the declaration of a local emergency on January 9, 2023, and approved its continuation at the regular meeting of February 13, 2023.
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, January 3, and activated the County's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate resources and communication with local, regional, and state agencies. San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management also coordinated a response to post the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) to the State. Per the FEMA and CalOES rules, PDAs must be submitted to the State 72 hours after identifying an extraordinary emergency. The Public Works department submitted the PDA forms to the County that will be included in the countywide composite damage estimate to the State. The Public Works department also submitted the local State of Emergency Proclamation to the State.
The storm event that occurred on December 31, 2022, resulted in dangerous conditions and public safety concerns and caused damages all around the Bay Area. Like many other Bay Area Cities, Pacifica received 4.6" rain in 24 hours, which resulted in severe flooding, road closures, fallen trees, and sanitary sewer overflow events. A subsequent storm event occurred on January 4, 2022 brought significant rains with high wind, high tides and flood watch warnings. These severe storm events caused major damage throughout Pacifica, including extensive street flooding, flooding of creeks, downed electrical wires, downed trees, road Pacifica City Council 2
April 10, 2023
closures, mud slides, bank erosion, City infrastructure and private residence damage, and created the largest flow in history to the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Public Works, Fire, Police Department, North County Fire Authority (NCFA) and other essential services staff worked diligently throughout these severe storm events and increased staffing to provide emergency protective measures such as providing traffic control for blocked roadways and other safety control, placing and maintaining barricades, providing sand bags (30,000 bags, 120 yds sand), placing and operating emergency pumps, and responding to the hundreds of emergency calls for service that were received during storms. NCFA received 107 calls for service, the Police Department received 195 calls for service, and Public Works logged 250 requests for service coming from various communications.
Public Works staff is continuing with storm cleanup from these severe storm events and anticipates the cleanup work to continue over the coming weeks. Damaged infrastructure is being assessed and repair options determined. Repairs may take 6 months or longer, depending on assessment of the damage.
The City Manager recommends that the City Council make a determination that conditions of local emergency continue to exist within the Pacifica related to December 2022 / January 2023 Winter Storm Events.
FISCAL IMPACT:
To be determined. The Proclamation of Local Emergency is a prerequisite for requesting state or federal assistance. The City will seek to recover expenses related to preparation, repair, and recovery from this storm event.
ORIGINATED BY:
City Manager's Office
ATTACHMENT LIST:
ATTACHMENT A: Resolution 01-2023 Ratifying Proclamation of Local Emergency Related to DEC JAN Winter Storm Events (PDF)