CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
6/24/2024
1 SUBJECT:
Termination of Local Emergency related to the December 28, 2023, High Tide/Large Wave Event
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Move to adopt Resolution Terminating Proclamation of Local Emergency related to the December 28, 2023, High Tide/Large Wave Event
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 5, 2024, 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 proclamation was ratified by the City Council on January 8, 2024.
The storm event that occurred on December 28, 2023, resulted in dangerous conditions and public safety concerns and caused damage to Pacifica’s coastline. The events brought large waves combined with high tide that damaged coastal access amenities at Beach Boulevard and Rockaway Beach. Damage included destroying bollards, trash cans, public benches, light posts, and protective railings. Also, the Pacifica Pier was damaged, requiring partial closure for public health and safety until assessment and repair can be completed. The event also created a hole in the seawall at Beach Blvd. and San Jose Ave., requiring 300 square feet of area behind the wall to be temporarily repaired to protect public infrastructure. Additionally, the event created flooding on streets and adjacent properties. Finally, the event brought significant amounts of sand onto the streets and parking lots that needed to be cleared for safe public access. In March of 2024, after receiving an Emergency Coastal Development Permit from the Coastal Commission, the City hired a contractor (MRC construction) who cleared the sand off Beach Boulevard and relocated the sand to the public access beach entrance at 700 Palmetto Ave. In addition, the contractor restacked the rock and brought in new rock to protect the Milagra stormwater outfall at the bottom of the access road that was damaged during the storm event.
Acting under the same permit, the contractor removed sand from the top of the rock revetment Pacifica City Council 2
June 24, 2024
south of the pier to expose the seawall to protect the Beach Boulevard promenade and homes in the area. The Council accepted the invoices from MRC for this work totaling $269,854 at the June 10, 2024, City Council Meeting.
The Public Works, Fire, and Police Departments, worked diligently through the high tide/large wave event to keep the public safe.
On February 2, 2024, a Governor’s proclamation from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) was issued to secure funding to help the City of Pacifica respond to and recover from the 2023 High Tide/Large Wave emergency event. Since Council’s ratification of the proclamation of the local emergency, City staff has identified all damage from the storm and is working with the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) on reimbursement assistance for this emergency event. 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.
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. The total cost impact from MRC Construction was $269,854.
Additional costs, such as repair of the Pier, have not yet been determined. Staff is requesting reimbursements for these costs through CalOES for the December 28, 2023, High Tide/Large Wave emergency event.
ORIGINATED BY:
Public Works
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Pacifica City Council 3
June 24, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. _________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA
TERMINATING PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY RELATED TO THE DECEMBER 28, 2023, HIGH TIDE/LARGE WAVE EVENT
______________________________________________________
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 high tide/large wave event that occurred on December 28, 2023, resulted in dangerous conditions and public safety concerns and caused damages along the California coastline and Pacifica experienced damage to infrastructure including the Pier and seawall and significant sand debris on streets, parking lots and on top or the southern rock revetment; and
WHEREAS, these events have caused damage along the Pacifica coastline 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, on January 5, 2024, 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 8, 2024; 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 that the City Council of the City of Pacifica hereby declares that the Proclamation of Local Emergency related to the December 28, 2024, High Tide/Large Wave event is now terminated.
• • • • •
Pacifica City Council 4
June 24, 2024
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California, held on the 24th day of June, 2024 by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
Sue Vaterlaus, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:
Michelle Marchetta Kenyon, City Attorney Sarah Coffey, City Clerk