Planning & Community Development Department
Debris Removal Update
&
L.A. County MOU - ROE
City Council
March 3, 2025
Planning & Community Development Department
2 EPA - Phase 1 U.S.A.C.E. - Phase 2
County of Los Angeles - ROE Pasadena - Local (Opt-Out) PPDR Debris Removal Update
Planning & Community Development Department
3 Hillsides
Debris Removal - Phase 1 Update
• Scope of Work: EPA removal of Household Hazardous Materials (HHM), including paint, paint thinners, pool chemicals, oils, pesticides, cleaners, lithium batteries, propane tanks, and other items • HHM removal commenced on January 27th
• Phase 1 completed in Pasadena
> 52 deferred properties
> USACE will complete Phase 1 for deferred properties
Planning & Community Development Department
4 Hillsides
Debris Removal - Phase 2 Update
• Scope of Work: Removal of fire damaged debris, foundations (optional), vehicles, and hazardous trees.
> Not Included: structures less than 120 SF, pools, driveways, planters, > Commercial properties are not eligible
• ROE applications opened on January 28th
> Pasadena: 125 applications received and 37 transmitted to USACE (30%) > County-wide: 9,910 applications received and 2,016 transmitted to the USACE (20%)
• Phase 2 commenced in Pasadena on February 22nd
> Work has commenced in D1 and D4
Planning & Community Development Department
5 Hillsides
Debris Removal - Phase 2 Update
Planning & Community Development Department
6 Debris Removal - Phase 2 Update
Planning & Community Development Department
7 Hillsides
Local (Opt-Out) Program
• Local (Opt-Out) Program applications opened on February 24th > Deadline to submit the application is March 31st
> 4 Opt-Out forms have been submitted to the County of Los Angeles County’s role is limited to verifying ownership
> 1 Opt-Out permit application has been received
> Not eligible for federal reimbursement
> Requirements generally align with USACE and County of Los Angeles Pasadena is requiring a site plan with a tree inventory » Removal of non-hazardous protected trees requires Tree Removal Permit
Designated haul routes
Planning & Community Development Department
8 Hillsides
MOU with Los Angeles County
• USACE required a centralized ROE program designating L.A. County as lead agency
• Phase 2 PPDR requires MOU between the City and the County of Los Angeles
• MOU is for the ROE program administration
Planning & Community Development Department
9 Hillsides
• City Responsibility: Cost-share with L.A. County for ROE program administration.
• Proportional cost-share formula: Total Pasadena opt-in properties divided by total County-wide properties multiplied by the total cost • Key County Responsibilities:
> Collect, review and transmit ROEs to USACE on behalf of the cities of Pasadena, Los Angeles, Malibu, Sierra Madre and L.A. County > City and County will work collaboratively on haul routes and hours, construction hours and notifications, watershed protection and environmental protection measures
> Facilitation of City meetings with state and federal agencies > City will have access to detailed ROE information
MOU with Los Angeles County
Planning & Community Development Department
10 Hillsides
ROE Outreach
• Webinar held on February 5th
• Second webinar scheduled for March 20th
• Additional Outreach:
> Verified contact for red-tagged properties
> Contact made with all property owners that have not submitted an ROE or opt-out application
> Contact made with property owners intending to keep foundations, providing additional information, including guidelines and requirements for foundation reuse
> Contact made with properties intending to opt-out
> Continuous follow-up
Planning & Community Development Department
11 Staff Recommendation
Hillsides
• Find that the action proposed herein are not a project and otherwise exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(5), 15269(c), and 15061(b)(3);
• Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, with the County of Los Angeles for administration of the Right of Entry (ROE) Program required for the Phase 2 Private Property Debris Removal Program; and
• The proposed memorandum of understanding is exempt from competitive bidding, pursuant to City Charter, Section 1002 (H), and Pasadena Municipal Code, Section 4.08.049 (A)(3), contracts with other government entities.
That the City Council:
Planning & Community Development Department
Debris Removal Update
&
L.A. County MOU - ROE
City Council
March 3, 2025
Planning & Community Development Department
13 Hillsides
Supplemental Information
Planning & Community Development Department
14 Hillsides
Supplemental Information
Planning & Community Development Department
15 Hillsides
Supplemental Information
Planning & Community Development Department
16 Hillsides
Supplemental Information
Planning & Community Development Department
17 Hillsides
Supplemental Information
Planning & Community Development Department
18 Hillsides
MOU with Los Angeles County
Timeline January 15th – City Council opted-in with L.A. County on FEMA Disaster Mitigation Program
• January 16th – California OES requested federal assistance to remove debris and hazardous trees from private property
• January 16th – USACE arrived and commenced mobilization • January 18th – FEMA issued authorization letter also defining eligibility • January 18th - Task Force meetings commenced
• USACE required a centralized ROE program designating L.A. County as lead agency
• January 28th - ROE applications opened county-wide
Planning & Community Development Department
19 Hillsides
Cost Share Example
Illustrative example: 150 (Pasadena properties)/10K(County-wide properties) X $10.7M (Tetra Tech contract amount) = $159K cost-share