CITY OF PALO ALTO
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
PROGRESS REPORT
Reporting Period
The reporting period for this progress report is 07-01-2022 through 10-01-2023.
Background
This is an annual update of the City of Palo Alto Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. This update also meets annual certification requirements for Palo Alto’s floodplain management and Community Rating System (CRS) program.
The City of Palo Alto, as part of the Santa Clara County multijurisdictional planning process (including participating local cities and special districts), developed a hazard mitigation plan in 2017 to reduce risk from all hazards by identifying resources, information, and strategies for risk reduction. The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires state and local governments to develop hazard mitigation plans as a condition for federal disaster grant assistance. To prepare the plan, the participating planning partners organized resources, assessed risks from natural hazards, developed planning goals and objectives, reviewed mitigation alternatives, and developed an action plan to address probable impacts from natural hazards. By completing this process, these jurisdictions maintained compliance with the Disaster Mitigation Act, achieving eligibility for mitigation grant funding opportunities afforded under the Robert T. Stafford Act. Volume I of the County plan provides the analysis of natural hazards for the Operational Area. It provides the content that informs the Palo Alto LHMP. Volume 1 can be viewed on-line at
https://emergencymanagement.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb261/files/For%20Partners/Local-Hazard- Mitigation-Plan-LHMP-Vol-1.pdf.
The Palo Alto LHMP, which articulates our local natural hazards and mitigation activities can be viewed online at
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Emergency-Services/Plans-and-Information/Local-Hazard- Mitigation-Plan
Purpose
The purpose of this information report is to provide an update on the implementation of the mitigation initiatives identified in the Santa Clara County Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2017. The
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objective is to ensure that there is a continuing planning process that will keep the Santa Clara County Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan dynamic and responsive to the needs and capabilities of the City of Palo Alto and its stakeholders.
Summary Overview of the Plan’s Progress
The performance period for the Santa Clara County Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan became effective on 12-19-2017, with the final approval of the plan by FEMA. The initial performance period for this plan is 5 years. As of this reporting period, the performance period for this plan is considered to be 47% complete (including complete and ongoing projects). The Palo Alto portion of the Santa Clara County Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan has targeted 38 hazard mitigation actions to be pursued during the 5-year performance period. As of the reporting period, the following overall progress can be reported:
●11 out of 38 initiatives (29%) have been completed.
●11 out of 38 initiatives (29%) indicated work is conducted as an ongoing capability. ●11 out of 38 initiatives (29%) reported progress toward completion. ●5 out of 38 initiatives (16%) reported no progress.
Review of the Action Plan
Table 2 reviews the action plan, reporting the status of each initiative.
TABLE 2
ACTION PLAN MATRIX
Action
Taken?
Timeline Priority
Changed?
Comment (Describe progress or changed
priority)
Status
City of Palo Alto
PA-1 - Develop a comprehensive flood control plan for San Francisquito Creek to minimize the risk of flooding.
Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No San Francisquito Creek Lower Reach Flood Reduction
and Ecosystem Restoration Project. San Francisquito
Creek East of Highway 101 project was completed in
December 2018. As a result, the creek can contain
flows greater than 9,600 CFS.
Completed
PA-2 - San Francisquito Creek Upper Reach Flood Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project. Replacing the Existing Pope/Chaucer Street Bridge and widen the creek at 5 locations to allow 7,500 CFS to pass (approximately the 70-year storm event).
Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No JPA and their consultant are evaluating capacity of the creek in light of the NYE 2022 storm event. Analysis
In Progress
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will determine if the current design criterion is
applicable or if additional changes are needed for the
Chaucer bridge and creek widening design project.
PA-3 - Newell Road Bridge Replacement Project to increase the flows that pass under the bridge from 6,600 CFS to 7,500 CFS.
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The project design has been completed. ROW
acquisition is under way to secure Temporary
Construction Easement. Negotiation with the owners
will be required and soon to be completed early in
2024. Approval for funding is still outstanding.
Construction to be scheduled to start Spring of 2024.
In Progress
PA-4 - San Francisquito Creek Upper Reach Flood Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project. The purpose of the project is to detain excess runoff generated from storms that exceed 70-year storm event.
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Staff from SFCJPA and their consultant are working
with Stanford representatives on the sediment transport analysis that the regulatory agencies required. This will be part of the Reach 2 submittal. This project has been delayed or temporary on hold until PA-2 is resolved.
In Progress
PA-5 - Matadero Creek Storm Water Pump Station Improvements.
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Project is completed. Completed
PA-6 - Storm Drain System Replacement and Rehabilitation Yes Long Term
(5+yrs)
No The damaged pipes have been replaced with HDPE
pipes. The 2022 storm drain rehabilitation project have been completed in fall 2022. Staff continues to monitor the conditions of the pipes and minor repairs are done
in house. Staff monitors hot spots that cannot be
repaired in house and will be completed at a later date when funding will be available.
Ongoing
Capability
PA-7 - Recycled Water Pipeline Expansion Project to expand the recycled water purple pipeline within South Palo Alto towards Stanford Research Park
Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No These projects and other alternative water supply
projects will be considered as part of the "One Water"
planning process.
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agend as-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/utilities-advisory-
In Progress
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commission/archived-agenda-and-minutes/agendas-
and-minutes-2021/07-07-2021-special/id-12332-item-
1.pdf.
The One Water plan is expected to be completed by
early 2024, which will propose alternatives for water
supply and conservation.
PA-8 - Continue to maintain good standing and compliance in the NFIP and maintain the Community Rating System Class to provide higher CRS premium discounts.
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The City had a CRS cycle visit on November 6, 2023.
City staff received comments from the CRS specialist
which they will address and return to the CRS specialist for further review. FEMA will finalize the final CRS
rating before summer of 2024. Staff anticipates
maintaining a rating of 6 to provide 20% savings on
flood insurance rates.
Ongoing
Capability
PA-9 - Complete the Strategy to Advance Flood protection, Ecosystems and Recreation (SAFER) San Francisco Bay Draft Feasibility Report to identify potential strategies for sea level rise adaptation flood protection and other benefits.
Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority released a Public Draft Feasibility Report in June 2019.
http://sfcjpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/SAFER-
Bay-Palo-Alto-Public-Draft-Feasibility-Report-June-
2019.pdf
Completed
PA-10 - Construct new Public Safety Building to mitigate current risks to public safety essential services Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No The public safety building exterior is complete, with interior construction occurring now. Anticipated move
in date is Spring of 2024.
In Progress
PA-11 - Rebuild Fire Stations 3 and 4 to mitigate current risks to essential services Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Fire Station 3 is complete. A design contract for Fire Station 4 was awarded in May 2022. Design of the new
station is underway with construction expected to begin in spring 2024.
In Progress
PA-12 - Continue seven-year cycle for high priority tree trimming to reduce impacts of falling branches and other tree related damages to public and personal property.
Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No A new contract was started in October 2021 and will
continue until October 2024. The contract scope is
Ongoing
Capability
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based on maintaining a minimum of the seven-year
cycle of pruning for public trees.
PA-13 - Replace the Baylands Tide Gate
Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No Due to funding limitations the original project was
modified to only include the structural integrity of the tide gate for seismic events. The structural modification is scheduled to be completed in calendar year 2025.
In Progress
PA-14 - Consider the use of alternative energy sources for critical infrastructure (essential facilities, key resources) Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No The City began development of a Reliability and
Resiliency Strategic Plan to study the reliability and
resiliency needs of an electrified community and
develop programs to facility community resiliency. In
September, Staff discussed the scope of the study with
the Utilities Advisory Commission. Two components of
the study are expected to be completed by the end of
2023, but aspects related to home and neighborhood
resiliency and efficient electrification will extend into 2024.
Ongoing
Capability
PA-15 - Implement Wastewater Long-Range Facilities Plan Yes Other,
please
specify
No Palo Alto continues to move forward with upgrading
the Wastewater Treatment Plant; 80 percent complete
with rehabilitating existing primary sedimentation tanks and started the construction of updating the secondary
treatment project to remove nutrients. 100% design
complete of the Salt Removal Facility to improved
existing recycled water. Palo Alto in the next year
plans on updating the Long Range Facilities Plan and
conducting the preliminary design of the new
headworks.
Ongoing
Capability
PA-16 - Conduct a feasibility analysis concerning the continued use of water reservoirs in the Foothills region.
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Staff determined there will be no change layout of
Foothills water system facilities. Park and Dahl
Reservoirs will be repaired and retrofitted (in FY '23
and '26). Despite low water demand in foothills,
Foothills water reservoirs cannot be removed due to
requirements for emergency water storage for
firefighting operations. The repair and retrofit of these Completed
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two tanks can be identified as new projects in the
upcoming LHMP update.
PA-17 - Consider construction of a new water reservoir in the low lying areas of Palo Alto.
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No With the decision in PA-16 to repair/retrofit the Park and Dahl Reservoirs, staff will not move forward plans
to build a new reservoir on Palo Alto's valley floor.
Completed
PA-18 - Rebuild and Reconfigure Electric System in Stanford Hospital/Mall Area to increase reliability during emergencies
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No This project is complete. New substructure was
installed and some circuits were rerouted.
Completed
PA-19 - Install Fiber Optic Service to Montebello Reservoir to improve public safety communications along Skyline Drive
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Electrical undergrounding is proceeding through the
project area, with work completed on Arastradero
Road, and work is continuing along Arastradero Creek
Trail. Completion of this project will occur in 1-2
years.
In Progress
PA-20 - Convert overhead utility lines to underground transmission. Installation of new underground electric, communication, and cable television systems in Electric Underground Districts 46 and 47 Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No District 46 & 47 is completed. Completed
PA-21 - Construct a second electrical transmission interconnection to PG&E using a new corridor.
Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No Stanford and SLAC decided against participating in
establishing a new intertie with Palo Alto. Palo Alto
Utilities is pursuing a new option and has contracted
with a consultant to obtain the California Independent
System Operator’s (CAISO) approval for a
transmission project to construct a 115kV circuit from
Palo Alto Adobe Creek Substation to PG&E Ames
Substation.
In Progress
PA-22 - Construct a second water interconnection from Palo Alto Utilities to Stanford Hospital Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The intertie is in place and can be used if needed; staff is working to determine how to finalize the agreement
for its use.
In Progress
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PA-23 - Connect Palo Alto to adjacent Public Safety agencies' Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) by Fiber Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No This project is on hold while the construction of the new Public Safety Building is underway; the feasibility of this project is being reassessed.
No
Progress
PA-24 - Implement a Public Safety Wireless Data Network Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No This project is on hold while the City initiates the first pilot phase of the Fiber to the Home project. As this
project advances, additional capabilities may be
developed.
No
Progress
PA-25 - Conduct a Hydrology Study on Buck-Eye Creek for flood protection and erosion control at Foothills Park Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The study was completed and sent to the Palo Alto City Council on May 29, 2018. Here is the link to the study
and the Council staff report:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/docum
ents/65118
Completed
PA-26 - Develop a Baylands Comprehensive Conservation Plan Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Staff received new recommendations received from
Commissioners and stakeholders which staff must
adjudicate. Additionally current staff availability is insufficient to make progress on the plan so it is
temporarily on hold while staff shortfalls are filled.
No
Progress
PA-27 - Address hazardous fuels and reduce structural ignitability in the Foothills region in accordance with the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and Foothills Fire Management Plan Yes Other,
please
specify
No In 2023 Palo Alto performed the required wildfire
mitigation activities in Foothills and Arastradero Nature Preserves in accordance with the FFMP. Additionally,
the Public Works Department Urban Forestry Division
contracted for electrical line clearance of the above
ground lines in the Foothills. The Palo Alto Fire
Department conducted their annual defensible space
home assessments for the residential properties in the
Palo Alto WUI. They have implemented new
management controls to mitigate residences not in
compliance with their recommended actions.
Ongoing
Capability
PA-28 - Encourage creation by Foothills Residents of a Firewise Ready Community
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Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No No Change: OES conducted a neighborhood meeting of
the Laurel Glen neighbors with PAFD, PAPD, CSD
Open Space Rangers and the Santa Clara County Fire
Safe Council in June 2023 in which we encouraged the
formation of a Firewise Community.
In Progress
PA-29 - Consider a policy for Seismic Retrofitting of earthquake prone structures Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No In 2016, the City contracted a study of building types with a high seismic risk within Palo Alto. Following
this study, the City Council was to direct the staff to develop policy recommendations to renovate these
structures. This item is now on the work plan for 2024 to build on the work done during the previous SRMAG
process.
No
Progress
PA-30 - Develop a Policy for Sea-Level Rise considerations (what actions should the City take) Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The City of Palo Alto City Council adopted a Sea Level rise policy on 18 March 2019.
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdlo ad.aspx?t=71340.78&BlobID=70115
Completed
PA-31 - Develop a post-disaster Community Long-term Recovery Plan Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No There is no change to the status of this activity. The ability to develop this plan is reliant on a multi-
departmental effort which cannot be supported with
current staffing levels.
No
Progress
PA-32 - Conduct public education that raises awareness of Palo Alto threats and hazards and improves community resilience
Yes Other,
please
specify
No Public Safety departments continue community
outreach to raise awareness, lower personal risks, and
increase preparedness through public education classes, social media posting, and attendance at community
events.
Ongoing
Capability
PA-33 - Maintain Storm Ready Community designation
Yes Other,
please
specify
No OES maintains this certification through annual
activities and requirements set by the Storm Ready
program. See https://www.weather.gov/stormready/ca-
sr
Ongoing
Capability
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PA-34 - Improve Palo Alto Fire Department ISO rating
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The Fire Department is pursuing an improved ISO
rating; the PAFD has a rating of 2 but is pursuing a
corrective action plan to attain a rating of 1.
Ongoing
Capability
PA-35 - Maintain Building Effectiveness Grading Schedule classification of 1 Yes Other,
please
specify
No There is no change to the ISO BCEGS rating of Class
3. Staff anticipates a revaluation in of this rating 2024.
Ongoing
Capability
PA-36 - Where appropriate, support retrofitting, purchase or relocation of structures located in high hazard areas and prioritize those structures that have experienced repetitive losses Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The City does not currently have a policy to purchase or relocate repetitive loss structures. Additionally,
sizable portions of the City are located in high hazard areas where relocation is not feasible. Retrofitting of properties is encouraged for those properties that may
be impacted by floods, earthquakes, and wildfires. See also PA-29. Additionally, the City has adopted the
most current State building code, which enhances the
standard of new construction.
Completed
PA-37 - Integrate the hazard mitigation plan into other plans, ordinances and programs that dictate land use decisions within the community
Yes Other,
please
specify
No The Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan recently finalized in 2017 integrates the LHMP in the Safety Element. The
Safety Element informs land use planning by describing
the natural hazards faced by the Palo Alto community.
Additionally, the new Sea Level Rise policy (PA- 30)
also integrates the LHMP. Additionally, the City of
Palo Alto Sustainability and Climate Action planning
take into account land use decisions.
Completed
PA-38 - Actively participate in the plan maintenance protocols outlined in Volume 1 of the hazard mitigation plan.
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The City is in compliance with the stated maintenance protocols.
Ongoing
Capability
Public review notice
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The contents of this report are considered to be public knowledge and have been prepared for total public disclosure. Copies of the report may be provided to the governing boards of all planning partners and to local media outlets. The report, once approved by the Palo Alto City Manager, and made available for City Council review will be available online on the OES website. Any questions or comments regarding the contents of this report should be directed to: City of Palo Alto OES, 650-617-3197 or lhmp@cityofpaloalto.
Next Plan Update
The LHMP five-year cycle formally ended on 12-19-2022 requiring the City of Palo Alto to provide a formal update to this plan. Between 2022 and 2023, The Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services conducted a Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) process among cities and special districts within the county, of which the City of Palo Alto was a participant. Staff worked with County representatives and their contractor to provide the appropriate inputs as required by federal guidance. The County submitted the MJHMP to the State of California Office of Emergency Services for a state level review. Following this state review, the State OES will submit the plan to FEMA for federal review. Once approved by FEMA, the City will request the City Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, as an annex to the County plan, be adopted by City Council.