PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item #9.E
SUBJECT/TITLE:
UPDATE ON JANUARY 9, 2023 AND JANUARY 12, 2017 EMERGENCY
PROCLAMATIONS
RECOMMENDATION:
No action recommended; for information only.
BACKGROUND:
Chapter 2.32 of the Pismo Beach Municipal Code empowers the City Manager, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, to proclaim the existence of a local emergency when the City is affected by an emergency and the City Council is not in session. An emergency exists when conditions are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, facilities, and existing laws of this City. The declaration is an acknowledgement of the need for additional resources and expedited procedures to deal with the emergency. The Director of Emergency Services’ declaration is subject to City Council ratification within seven days.
As required by the Emergency Declarations ratified by Resolution R-2023-001 on January 11, 2023, relating to winter storm damage, and by Resolution R-2017-012 on January 17, 2017, relating to winter storm damage, the following status report is provided for information purposes.
January 11, 2023 Proclamation: Winter Storms
The City Council declared a state of emergency on January 11, 2023, via Resolution R- 2023-001, ratifying the Emergency Services Director’s proclamation of a local emergency in response to the January 2023 winter storms. On January 9, 2023, the County of San Luis Obispo declared an emergency which was followed by a declaration by Governor Newsom for the region. On January 14, 2023 President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the January storms, making federal disaster aid available. The storms, which began the first week of January, took a toll on the community, causing conditions of peril to the safety of persons and property due to flooding, bluff erosion, strong winds and other storm related damages.
Staff took immediate cleanup and protective measures of the sites where possible and has been working with FEMA through the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for reimbursement for work and funds required to cleanup and secure the various sites. Staff attended a Recovery Scoping Meeting with FEMA on January 18, 2023. Sites that were submitted to FEMA/CalOES include:
Section of bluff on Ocean Boulevard north of Margo Dodd Park between Seaview Avenue and Palisade Avenue
Section of failed bluff at intersection of Palisade Avenue and Ocean Avenue Pier Avenue Storm Drain Outfall
9.E-1Council Agenda 10-3-2023
Eldwayen Park Point (area in park that includes telescope and public bench) Eldwayen Park North (section of park on north end adjacent to Ocean Boulevard Improvement Project)
Price Canyon Slope (section of recently completed slope repair)
President Biden recently declared a disaster in California for the March 2023 storms. Staff is working with CalOES/FEMA to provide initial damage inventory and estimates. Sites that have recently been submitted include:
Bluff failure at Memory Park adjacent to recently completed St. Andrews seawall Destruction of newly revegetated area on creekbed
Summary of Current Events
Staff continues to work with FEMA through the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for reimbursement for work and funds required to cleanup and secure the various sites from both the January and March storms. Staff completed a site inspection with representatives from CalOES and FEMA for the January sites on September 6, 2023.
January 12, 2017 Proclamation: Winter Storms
The Pismo Beach City Council declared a state of emergency on January 12, 2017, via Resolution R-2017-0121, in response to the January 2017 winter storms. Shortly after the Council’s declaration, the County of San Luis Obispo declared an emergency which was followed by a declaration by Governor Jerry Brown for the region. On February 14, 2020 and March 16, 2020 President Donald Trump declared a major disaster for the early and late January storms, making federal disaster aid available. The storms, which began the first week of January, took a toll on the community, culminating with a Caltrans storm drain failure on Highway 101, which caused flooding of two hotels on Price Street, blockage of the City’s Franklin storm drain outfall and debris scattered along Highway 101, Price Street and sidewalk, on Franklin Drive and various private parcels on January 20, 2017. Damage from the storms includes but is not limited to the following:
Bluff failure on Ocean Boulevard (Caltrans purview)
Bluff failure at Memory Park (FEMA purview)
Franklin Avenue storm drain failure (FEMA purview)
City Hall storm damage (FEMA purview)
Bluff failure at Ebb Tide Park (FEMA purview)
Bluff failure at Cypress Street at Harloe Avenue (FEMA purview) Storm drain failure on the City’s outfall located adjacent to the Dolphin Bay Resort (FEMA purview)
Storm drain failure on Cliff Avenue at Ocean Boulevard (adjacent to Dinosaur Caves Park) (Caltrans Purview)
Storm drain failure at the end of Harbor View Avenue (FEMA purview) Slope/road failure on Price Canyon Road (Caltrans purview)
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https://accesspismo.pismobeach.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=107586&dbid=0&repo=Laserfiche
9.E-2Council Agenda 10-3-2023
Summary of Current Events
The consultant is moving forward with work to obtain right of way authorization. Staff has submitted a time extension request to Caltrans Local Assistance and is waiting for their review and determination.
Construction of the Ocean Boulevard Improvement Project is complete with minor items remaining for project close out. A ribbon cutting was held on September 8, 2023.
In early September 2023 received FEMA approval of the time extension request for the storm drain failure on the City’s outfall located adjacent to the Dolphin Bay Resort. Staff is now pursuing additional reimbursement for the permanent repairs that were completed in May 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact from this report.
January 2023 Winter Storms
The cost of damage from the January 2023 storms is estimated to be about $26 million.
January 2017 Winter Storms
The cost of damage from the January 2017 storms is approximately $12 million.
ALTERNATIVES:
None, for information only.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
Meeting Date: October 3, 2023 Prepared by:
Erin Olsen, Senior Management Analyst
Submitted by: Erica Inderlied, City Clerk
Interim City Manager Approval:
9.E-3Council Agenda 10-3-2023