CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: April 7, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
TITLE: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. ___-25 REPEALING AND REPLACING RESOLUTION 33-18 REGARDING THE 2017 CONTRA COSTA
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE AND ADOPTING THE
2024 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
VOLUME 1 AND THE CITY OF PLEASANT HILL'S ANNEX IN
VOLUME 2
SYNOPSIS
The purpose of this item is to consider a resolution of the City Council to adopt the 2024 Contra Costa County Hazard Mitigation Plan (2024 Plan). The 2024 Plan is a multi-agency and multi-hazard plan that identifies hazards and their effects on the community and sets goals and specific actions to effectively mitigate these hazards. The 2024 Plan complies with federal and state hazard mitigation planning requirements necessary to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster mitigation or grant funds.
DISCUSSION
Background
In 2022, a coalition of Contra Costa County cities and special districts, including the City of Pleasant Hill, embarked on a planning process to prepare for and lessen the impacts of specified natural hazards by updating the 2017 Contra Costa County Hazard Mitigation Plan previously adopted by the City. Responding to federal mandates in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA) (Public Law 106-390), the partnership was formed to pool resources and create a uniform hazard mitigation strategy that can consistently be applied to the defined planning area and used to ensure eligibility for grant funding opportunities. The DMA requires agencies to update their Hazard Mitigation Plan every five years. If a community does not have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan, it is not eligible to receive FEMA disaster mitigation or recovery funds.
Historically, the City of Pleasant Hill has been a committed partner in regional hazard mitigation planning efforts. The first regional Hazard Mitigation Plan was developed in partnership with the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and approved by FEMA in November 2005. On March 19, 2007, the City Council passed Resolution No. 21-07, adopting the ABAG Hazard Mitigation Plan; on July 16, 2012, the City Council passed Resolution No. 60-12 adopting the 2011 Contra Costa County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update; and on June 18, 2018, the City Council passed Resolution No. 33-18 adopting the 2017 Contra Costa County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update.
Thirty-nine participating agencies were involved in the 2017 Plan including unincorporated Contra Costa County, cities and towns, and special purpose districts (e.g., school districts, utility companies, fire protection districts, etc.).
The 2024 Plan is divided into two volumes. Volume 1 identifies a unified framework and is a coordinated document covering all planning partners within the Contra Costa County Operational Area. Volume 2 contains each of the thirty-nine jurisdiction’s specific plans, also called an “annex” (only the Pleasant Hill Annex is attached). Continued participation in the 2024 Plan requires each agency to adopt Volume 1 and its particular annex in Volume 2. The 2024 Plan was approved by FEMA and the California Office of Emergency Services (CALOES) on September 18, 2024, and adopted by Contra Costa County in November 2024.
Analysis
The 2024 Plan documents the multi-jurisdictional effort to identify hazards that can affect the community, sets clear goals, identifies appropriate actions, and follows through with sustained actions that will reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from a hazard event.
Mitigation can reduce the enormous cost of disasters to property owners and all levels of government. Implementation of the 2024 Plan can protect critical community facilities, reduce exposure to liability, and minimize post-disaster community disruption.
Hazard mitigation plans must identify goals for reducing long-term vulnerabilities to identified hazards. A Steering Committee was formed that established a guiding principle, a set of goals, and measurable objectives for the 2024 Plan, which is contained in Volume 1. The goals are general in nature, and it is the responsibility of each jurisdiction to determine the best methods of meeting identified goals and objectives.
Volume 1 addresses the following hazards of concern within the regional planning area: dam failure, drought, earthquake, flood, landslide, severe weather, tsunami, and wildfire. The Steering Committee used a risk assessment model and data provided by each jurisdiction to analyze and rank hazards based on potential impacts to physical, social, and economic assets. The top three hazard risks within the Contra Costa County Operational Area were determined to be earthquake, landslide, and severe weather.
Pleasant Hill’s annex in Volume 2 analyzes the following criteria:
• Development trends, especially within a Special Flood Hazard Area (floodplain) • Assessment of codes, ordinances, master plans and required permits that support the City’s ability to implement hazard mitigation strategies • Fiscal capability to fund hazard mitigation projects
• Technical capability of staff to identify hazards and implement mitigation strategies • Ability to provide public outreach and education
• Participation and compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program • Integration of the hazard mitigation plan with other City guidelines, codes, and ordinances
• Updating the historical natural event record
• Hazard risk ranking
• Updating and prioritizing the hazard mitigation action plan matrix City staff reviewed each hazard risk specifically for Pleasant Hill. The top three hazard risks within Pleasant Hill were determined to be earthquake, severe weather, and flood. These priorities have not changed since the last plan update; however, mitigation actions from the previous plan were updated and a more concerted effort on achieving equitable outcomes for all communities, including underserved communities and socially vulnerable populations, have been implemented.
Pleasant Hill’s annex includes a list of 27 action items; 15 ongoing, six in-progress, four not started, and two new action items. Many of the action items begin as general goals, and as they are addressed, specific action items may be added to or removed from the matrix. For example, Action Item 19, “Develop Hazard Maps with Geographic Systems (GIS) and provide to the Public via Hardcopy and On-line,” and Action Item 26, “Obtain New Permit Tracking Software to Assist Staff with Documentations,” were both completed. Further, Action Item 28, “Implement Measures to Alleviate or Reduce Flooding Impacts in Pleasant Hill,” and Action Item 29, “Implement Flood Reduction Measure to Increase Capacity at Grayson Creek,” were added to this update.
It is critical for each jurisdiction within the Contra Costa County Operational Area to strive to meet the goals and objectives outlined in the 2024 Plan. Action or inaction of one jurisdiction affects surrounding communities, as natural disasters such as flooding or wildfire are rarely limited by jurisdictional boundaries. It is the responsibility of each jurisdiction to update its annex on an annual basis, to document hazard events, and if necessary, identify actions or projects that will reduce or eliminate losses from future disasters in order to qualify for FEMA hazard mitigation or recovery funds. The 2024 Plan is considered a living document such that, as awareness of additional hazards develop, new strategies and projects are conceived to mitigate or prevent losses due to natural disasters. The 2024 Plan will be evaluated and revised on a continual five-year time frame. Engineering Division staff has provided PHPD Emergency Operations staff with this report and will continue to coordinate hazard mitigation and emergency response efforts between the departments.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no immediate fiscal impact; however, if the City of Pleasant Hill does not adopt the 2024 Plan, then the City would be ineligible to apply for FEMA disaster mitigation or recovery funds.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Development of the 2024 Plan included public involvement, which was solicited via a county-wide comprehensive public outreach campaign that included two rounds of public meetings, web-based information, a questionnaire, and multiple social media updates. County residents were asked to contribute by sharing knowledge of their individual area’s vulnerability to natural hazards based on past occurrences. Public responses are included in the 2024 Plan. In addition, public contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, in the City Clerk’s office, at the Pleasant Hill Library, and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department.
The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page and are available in the City Clerk’s office.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Adopt the proposed resolution and 2024 Contra Costa County Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 1 and the City of Pleasant Hill’s Annex in Volume 2.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
Do not adopt the 2024 Plan. The City would have to create its own disaster mitigation plan to comply with federal mandates, included in the DMA, and would not be eligible to apply for FEMA disaster mitigation or recovery funds.
ATTACHMENT(S)
Proposed Resolution
City of Pleasant Hill Annex HMP
Prepared by: Ann James, Public Works Director
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager