CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
5/8/2023
1 SUBJECT:
Termination of Local Emergencies related to December 2022/January 2023 Winter Storms and March 2023 Storm Events
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Move to adopt Resolution Terminating Proclamations of Local Emergencies related to December 2022/January 2023 Winter Storms and March 2023 Storm Events STAFF CONTACT:
Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager
(650) 738-7409
[email protected]
Lisa Petersen, Director of Public Works
(650) 730-4948
[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" related to damage from December 2022/January 2023 winter storms. On January 9, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 01-2023 to ratify the Proclamation (Attachment A). The City’s Proclamation was sent to San Mateo County Offices of Emergency Services and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and allowed the City to seek state and federal funds relating to the emergency.
On March 23, 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" related to damage from March 2023 storms. On March 27, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 27-2023 to ratify the Proclamation (Attachment B).
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.
High wind and flood watch warnings also impacted the region from the morning of Wednesday, January 4th through the afternoon of Friday, January 6, 2023. The storm brought extremely high winds and excessive rainfall, landslides, widespread power outages, downed trees and power lines, extensive street flooding and sand and debris on streets, and flooding of creeks and bank erosion. Public Works, Fire, Police Department, and other essential services staff worked Pacifica City Council 2
May 08, 2023
diligently to prepare for the storm events and through the storm events. In addition, the City issued a press release advising the community and media outlets on extreme weather conditions, preparedness tips, helpful resources, and emergency information.
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 is also coordinated a response to post the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) to the State. The Public Works department prepared and submitted the initial PDA forms to the County that was included in the countywide composite damage estimate to the State and submitted damage claims to FEMA by the required FEMA deadline.
Since Council’s ratification of the proclamation of the local emergency, City staff has identified all damage from the storm and is working to repair the damage. The situation resulting from the emergency conditions of extreme peril is now deemed to be within the control of the normal protective services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of and within Pacifica. The City Manager, as Director of Emergency Services, and staff now recommend the City Council approve the termination of the local emergency for the December 2022/January 2023 Winter Storms.
Additionally, the March 2023 storm events caused damage in Pacifica. Although no state or federal declaration of emergency was declared for the March storm events in San Mateo County, the City Manager proclaimed the existence of a local emergency to make available state and federal funding to cover damages, had these declarations been made. The situation resulting from these emergency conditions of extreme peril is now deemed to be within the control of the normal protective services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of and within Pacifica. The City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services, and staff now recommend the City Council approve the termination of the local emergency for the March 2023 Storm Events.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
Council may choose to not approve the termination of local emergencies; however, such action may prolong an unnecessary declaration of an emergency to the public. Staff does not recommend this alternate action.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impacts associated with the emergencies declared are covered under the City’s Disaster Accounting Fund. Staff will request reimbursements for the costs through FEMA for the December/January 2023 storm events.
ORIGINATED BY:
Public Works
Pacifica City Council 3
May 08, 2023
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment A - Resolution No. 01-2023 (PDF)
Attachment B - Resolution No. 27-2023 (PDF)
Pacifica City Council 4
May 08, 2023
RESOLUTION NO. _________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA
TERMINATING PROCLAMATIONS OF LOCAL EMERGENCY RELATED TO THE DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023 and MARCH 2023 STORM EVENTS
______________________________________________________
WHEREAS, Government Code section 8630 and section 4-2.01 et seq. of the Pacifica Municipal Code empower the Director of Emergency Services to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City Council is not in session, subject to confirmation by the City Council at the earliest possible time; and WHEREAS, the City Manager is the Director of Emergency Services of the City of Pacifica; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, high wind and flood watch warnings also impacted the region from the morning of Wednesday, January 4 through the afternoon of Friday, January 6, 2023. The storm brought extremely high winds and excessive rainfall, landslides, widespread power outages, downed trees and power lines, extensive street flooding and sand and debris on streets, and flooding of creeks; and
WHEREAS, these events have caused damage throughout the City of Pacifica that require repair; and
WHEREAS, such conditions were beyond the handling capability of the City’s services, personnel, equipment, and facilities, requiring the use of outside contractors to conduct emergency repair on a time and materials basis; and WHEREAS, the City was also hit with severe storms in March of 2023, although no state or federal declaration of emergency was declared for the March storm events in San Mateo County; and
WHEREAS, 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" and the City Council ratified the Proclamation on January 9, 2023 via Resolution No. 01-2023; and Pacifica City Council 5
May 08, 2023
WHEREAS, on March 23, 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" and the City Council ratified the Proclamation on March 27, 2023 via Resolution No. 27-2023; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code section 8630, the situation resulting from said conditions of extreme peril is now deemed to be within the control of the normal protective services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of and within Pacifica; and WHEREAS, the City Manager, as Director of Emergency Services, and staff recommend that the City Council terminate the Proclamations of Local Emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Pacifica hereby declares that the Proclamations of Local Emergency related to the December 2022/January 2023 and March 2023 storms hereby terminated. • • • • •
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California, held on the 8th day of May 2023, by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
Tygarjas Twyrls Bigstyck, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ _________________________________ Sarah Coffey, City Clerk Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney