City Council
Staff Report
From: City Auditor
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Auditor
Meeting Date: June 16, 2025
Report #:2506-4782
TITLE
Approval of Office of the City Auditor Emergency Preparedness: Wildfire Audit Report as Recommended by the Policy & Services Committee
RECOMMENDATION
Policy and Services Committee and the City Auditor recommend City Council approve the BakerTilly Emergency Preparedness: Wildfire Audit Report.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Palo Alto, like many communities in California, faces increasing wildfire risks due to climate change, prolonged drought, and human activity in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), and this report is one item in a series of a series of public engagement and public meetings to raise awareness of local wildfire risks and the importance of wildfire preparedness. The Policy & Services Committee reviewed the attached report and discussed recent wildfire preparedness activities underway and new items such as the newly released wildfire maps released by the California Fire Marshal and transmits an audit on wildfire preparedness completed by BakerTilly, the City’s Auditor. The Committee on April 8, 2025 unanimously recommended Council approval of the audit. The audit conducted by BakerTilly reviewed the current wildfire protection plans implemented by the City and evaluated their effectiveness in mitigating wildfire risks and ensuring adequate emergency response. The audit identified areas for improvement in evacuation planning and enhancing community engagement.
BACKGROUND
Baker Tilly, in its capacity serving as the Office of the City Auditor (OCA), performed a citywide risk assessment that assessed a wide range of risk areas, including strategic, financial, operational, compliance, technological, and reputation risks. The purpose of the assessment was to identify and prioritize risks to develop the annual audit plan. Recognizing the need for an independent assessment of the City's wildfire preparedness, BakerTilly conducted an audit in alignment with its 2024 Risk Assessment and subsequent Council approved workplan.
After the January 2025 southern California wildfires, the Policy & Services Committee agenda item was expanded to discuss two parts, 1) Wildfire Preparedness Activities and 2) Summary and Response to the Emergency Preparedness – Wildfire Audit (conducted in 2024, prior to the recent events). Recognizing the importance of communications, education, and preparation, in collaboration with the City Auditor, this expansion was in alignment with the launch of a series of items to raise awareness of local wildfire risks and the importance of wildfire preparedness.
ANALYSIS
The objective of the Emergency Preparedness – Wildfire Audit aimed to determine whether the City is adequately prepared to prevent and respond to wildfires as part of its overall emergency management plan. The attached BakerTilly Audit Report (Attachment A) provides a detailed analysis of the City's current practices and recommendations for improvement. The OCA interviewed staff, reviewed policies and procedures as well as FEMA and CAL FIRE standards and best practices to complete this audit work.
The BakerTilly Audit Report highlights two findings:
1. While the City has made significant investments in and has strong programs aimed to prevent and mitigate wildfire risks; we noted some areas for improvement including enhancing community outreach and engagement.
2. Overall, the City has a strong emergency response plan but should consider if improvements could be made to evacuation planning, training, after action report recommendation implementation, and communication efforts.
The attached report summarizes the analysis, audit findings, and recommendations. The audit identified areas for further improvement in evacuation planning and enhancing community engagement regarding these activities. Management has provided responses in the Appendix.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The timeline and resource needs for implementation of management’s corrective action plans are identified by management within the attached responses. Implementing activities such as hardening systems and undergrounding the electricity transmission line in the foothills are within existing capital improvement plans and funding. Acquisition of new equipment and technology is reviewed and evaluated as it arises in the context of the various plans, most currently as part of the Foothills Fire Management Plan/Community Wildfire Protection Plan (FFMP/CWPP) a multi-year plan transmitted to the City Council in parallel with this Audit on June 16, 2025. As noted in the information report, the City will also explore potential funding sources, such as grants from federal and state agencies, to offset the costs of implementing wildfire preparedness plans.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The Office of the City Auditor worked with and would like to thank several departments for their assistance in conducting this audit including: City Manager’s Office, Public Works, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Services, and Palo Alto Utilities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Office of the City Auditor worked with and would like to thank several departments for their assistance in conducting this audit including: City Manager’s Office, Public Works, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Services, and Palo Alto Utilities.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Emergency Preparedness - Wildfire Audit Report Attachment B: Policy & Services April 8, 2025 Staff Report APPROVED BY:
Kate Murdock, City Auditor