Agenda packet — Rancho Cucamonga City Council, June 7, 2023 (part 6 of 6)

Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 2 of 2
ATTACHMENT 22
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this ________ day of _____________ 2023.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 1 of 2
ATTACHMENT 23
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-XXX

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO

CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY
ANNUAL ENGINEER’S REPORTS FOR THE ANNUAL LEVY OF

ASSESSMENTS WITHIN STREET LIGHTING MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NOS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 AND 8, INCLUSIVE, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, California, pursuant to the provisions of Division 15, Part 2 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California (the “1972 Act”), Article XIIID of the Constitution of the State of California (“Article XIIID”) and the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act (Government Code Section 53750 and following) (the “Implementation Act”) (the 1972 Act, Article XIIID and the Implementation Act are referred to collectively as the “Assessment Law”), did, by previous Resolution, order the preparation of a separate report for the annual levy of assessments for Fiscal Year 2023/24 (each, an “Annual Engineer’s Report”) in certain maintenance assessment districts known and designated as Street Lighting Maintenance District Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, inclusive (each, a “District” and collectively, the “Districts”); and WHEREAS, there has now been presented to this City Council a separate Annual Engineer’s Report for each District as required by the Assessment Law and as previously directed by Resolution; and WHEREAS, this City Council has now examined and reviewed each Annual Engineer’s Report as presented, and is satisfied with each and all of the items and documents as set forth in each report, and is satisfied that the assessments, on a preliminary basis, have been spread within each District in accordance with the special benefits received from the improvements to be maintained and serviced, as set forth in the applicable Annual Engineer’s Report.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA, HEREBY

RESOLVES,
SECTION 1. Recitals. The above recitals are all true and correct.

SECTION 2. Annual Engineer’s Reports. The Annual Engineer’s Report for each District as presented, consisting of the following:

A. Plans and specifications describing the general nature, location and extent of the improvements to be maintained and serviced and the extent of such maintenance; B. An estimate of the cost of the maintenance of the improvements for the District for Fiscal Year 2023/24;
C. A diagram for such District, showing the area and properties proposed to be assessed; and
D. An annual assessment for Fiscal Year 2023/24 of the estimated costs of the maintenance and servicing of those improvements to be maintained and serviced during such Fiscal Year, assessing the net amount upon all assessable lots and/or parcels within such District in proportion to the special benefits received is hereby approved on a preliminary basis and is ordered to be filed in the Office of the City Clerk as a permanent record and to remain open to public inspection.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 2 of 2
ATTACHMENT 23
SECTION 3.The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution, and the minutes of this meeting shall so reflect the presentation of the Annual Engineer’s Reports.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this ________ day of ____________ 2023.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 1 of 4
ATTACHMENT 24
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-XXX

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO

CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO

PROVIDE FOR THE ANNUAL LEVY AND COLLECTION OF
ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 IN STREET LIGHTING
MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NOS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 AND 8, INCLUSIVE,

AND SETTING A TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING THEREON WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, California, has previously formed certain maintenance districts and authorized the levy of assessments therein pursuant to the terms and provisions of the “Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972,” being Division 15, Part 2 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California (commencing with Section 22500) (the “1972 Act”) in what are known and designated as Street Lighting Maintenance District Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, inclusive (each a “District” and collectively, the “Districts”); and
WHEREAS, this City Council has initiated proceedings to provide for the annual levy of assessments for Fiscal Year 2023/24, to finance the costs and expenses necessary for continued maintenance and servicing of improvements within each District; and WHEREAS, at this time, there has been presented and approved by this City Council, a separate report for each District identified by the distinctive designation of such District and entitled “Fiscal Year 2023/24 Annual Engineer’s Report” (each, an “Annual Engineer’s Report” and collectively, the “Annual Engineer’s Reports”) as required pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 1 of the 1972 Act, Article XIIID of the Constitution of the State of California (“Article XIIID”) and the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act (Government Code Section 53750 and following) (the “Implementation Act”) (the 1972 Act, Article XIIID and the Implementation Act are referred to collectively as the “Assessment Law”), and this City Council desires to conduct the proceedings to authorize the levy of the annual assessments within each District; and
WHEREAS, the annual assessments for Fiscal Year 2023/24 proposed to be levied within each District as set forth in the applicable Annual Levy Report do not exceed the annual assessments as previously authorized to be levied within such District and, therefore, the proposed levy of assessments for Fiscal Year 2023/24 within such District are not deemed to be “increased” over the maximum authorized annual assessments.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA, HEREBY

RESOLVES,
SECTION 1. Recitals. The above recitals are all true and correct.

The improvements include, but are not limited to, street lights, traffic signals and appurtenant facilities related thereto. A description of the specific improvements to be acquired, maintained and serviced within each District is set forth in Appendix A attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 2 of 4
ATTACHMENT 24
The maintenance of the improvements includes the furnishing of services and materials for the ordinary and usual maintenance, operation, and servicing of any improvement. Service includes the furnishing of electric current or energy, gas, or other illuminating agent for any improvement.

Reference is made to the applicable Annual Engineer’s Report for further information regarding the improvements to be acquired, maintained and serviced for each District and the scope of such maintenance and service.

SECTION 3. Annual Engineer’s Reports. The Annual Engineer’s Reports regarding the annual levy for each District for Fiscal Year 2023/24 have been preliminarily approved and directed to be filed in the Office the City Clerk. Reference is made to the applicable such report for each District for a full and detailed description of the improvements to be maintained and serviced, the boundaries of such District and any zones therein, and the proposed assessments upon assessable lots and parcels of land within such District.

SECTION 4. Assessment. The public interest and convenience requires, and it is the intention of this City Council to order, the annual levy of assessments for each District as set forth and described in the applicable Annual Engineer’s Report, and further it is determined to be in the best public interest and convenience to levy and collect annual assessments to pay the costs and expenses of such maintenance and service as estimated in such Annual Engineer’s Report.

SECTION 5. Boundaries of Districts. The proposed maintenance and service work as described in the Annual Engineer’s Report for each District is, in the opinion of this City Council, of special benefit to the properties within the boundaries of such District, and this City Council makes the costs and expenses of such maintenance and service chargeable upon each such District, which District said City Council hereby declares to be the District specially benefited by such maintenance and service, and to be further assessed pursuant to the Assessment Law to pay the costs and expenses thereof. Each such District shall include each and every parcel of land within the boundaries thereof; as such District is shown on a map or maps as approved by this City Council and on file in the Office of the City Clerk, and so designated by the name of such District.

SECTION 6. Public Hearing. Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held on the 19th day of July 2023, at the hour of 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the regular meeting of the City Council, being in the Council Chambers located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California, which is the time and place fixed by this City Council for the hearing of protests or objections in reference to the annual levy of assessments, to the extent of the maintenance, by any interested person and any other matters contained in this resolution. Any persons who wish to object to the proceedings for the annual levy should file a written protest with the City Clerk prior to the time set and scheduled for said public hearing.

SECTION 7. For Information Regarding Proceedings. For any and all information relating to the proceedings, protest procedure, any documentation and/or information of a procedural or technical nature, your attention is directed to the below listed person at the City:

Noah Daniels
Finance Director
City of Rancho Cucamonga
10500 Civic Center Drive
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(909) 774-2403

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 3 of 4
ATTACHMENT 24
SECTION 8. Notice. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish, pursuant to Government Code Section 6061, a copy of this Resolution in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, a newspaper of general circulation within said City, said publication shall be made one time and not less than ten (10) days before the date set for the Public Hearing.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this __________ day of _____________ 2023.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 4 of 4
ATTACHMENT 24
Appendix A
Descriptions of Improvements
This Appendix A contains general descriptions of the improvements to be maintained and serviced within each of the Districts. Please refer to the Annual Engineer’s Report for a full and complete description of the maintenance and service to be provided for each District.

Street Lighting Maintenance District No. 1
The installation/maintenance of street lights and traffic signals on arterial streets that are throughout the City.

Street Lighting Maintenance District No. 2
The installation/maintenance of street lights and traffic signals on local streets that are generally west of Haven Avenue.

Street Lighting Maintenance District No. 3
The installation/maintenance of street lights and traffic signals located within the Victoria Planned Community.

Street Lighting Maintenance District No. 4
The installation/maintenance of street lights and traffic signals located within the Terra Vista Planned Community.

Street Lighting Maintenance District No. 5
The installation/maintenance of street lights and traffic signals located within the Caryn Planned Community.

Street Lighting Maintenance District No. 6
The installation/maintenance of street lights and traffic signals located on commercial and industrial streets throughout the City but that are not within an existing local maintenance district. This area is located generally south of Foothill Boulevard.

Street Lighting Maintenance District No. 7
The installation/maintenance of street lights and traffic signals on local streets within this area of the City is known as "North Etiwanda". This area is located generally east of Day Creek Channel and north of Highland Avenue.

Street Lighting Maintenance District No. 8
The installation/maintenance of street lights and traffic signals on local streets within this area of the City is known as "South Etiwanda". This area is located generally east of Etiwanda Avenue, north of Foothill Boulevard and south of Highland Avenue.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 1 of 2
ATTACHMENT 25
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-XXX

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO

CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF THE
ANNUAL ENGINEER’S REPORT PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF

THE ASSESSMENT LAW FOR PROCEEDINGS FOR THE ANNUAL

ASSESSMENT LEVY WITHIN PARK AND RECREATION
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. PD-85 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/24
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, California, has previously undertaken proceedings to form and has formed that certain maintenance district pursuant to pursuant to the terms and provisions of the “Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972”, being Division 15, Part 2 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California (commencing with Section 22500) (the “1972 Act”), known and designated as Park and Recreation Improvement District No. PD-85 (the “District”); and WHEREAS, at this time the City Council desires to initiate proceedings pursuant to Chapter 3 of the 1972 Act to provide for the annual levy of assessments for the next ensuing fiscal year to provide for the annual costs for maintenance and servicing of improvements within the District; and WHEREAS, the proceedings for the annual levy of assessments shall relate to the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024 (“Fiscal Year 2023/24”).

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA,

HEREBY RESOLVES,
SECTION 1. Recitals. The above recitals are all true and correct.

SECTION 2. New Improvements or Substantial Changes in Existing Improvements. No new improvements are proposed to be added to the improvements to be maintained or serviced and no substantial changes in the existing improvements are proposed to be made for Fiscal Year 2023/24.

SECTION 3. Annual Engineer’s Report. The City Engineer is hereby ordered to prepare and file with this City Council an Annual Engineer’s Report for the District relating to such annual assessment and levy in such District in accordance with the provisions of 1972 Act, Article XIIID of the Constitution of the State of California (“Article XIIID”) and the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act (Government Code Section 53750 and following) (the “Implementation Act”) (the 1972 Act, Article XIIID and the Implementation Act are referred to collectively as the “Assessment Law”).

SECTION 4. Filing of the Annual Engineer’s Report. Upon completion, the Annual Engineer’s Report for the District shall be filed with the City Clerk, who shall then submit the same to this City Council for its consideration pursuant to the Assessment Law.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 2 of 2
ATTACHMENT 25
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this ________ day of _____________ 2023.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 1 of 2
ATTACHMENT 26
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-XXX

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO

CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY
ANNUAL ENGINEER’S REPORT FOR THE ANNUAL LEVY OF

ASSESSMENTS WITHIN PARK AND RECREATION IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT NO. PD-85 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/24
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, California, pursuant to the provisions of Division 15, Part 2 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California (the “1972 Act”), Article XIIID of the Constitution of the State of California (“Article XIIID”) and the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act (Government Code Section 53750 and following) (the “Implementation Act”) (the 1972 Act, Article XIIID and the Implementation Act are referred to collectively as the “Assessment Law”), did, by previous Resolution, order the preparation of a report for the annual levy of assessments for Fiscal Year 2023/24 (the “Annual Engineer’s Report”) in a certain maintenance assessment district known and designated as Park and Recreation Improvement District No. PD-85 (the “District”); and
WHEREAS, there has now been presented to this City Council the Annual Engineer’s Report for the District as required by the Assessment Law and as previously directed by Resolution; and WHEREAS, this City Council has now examined and reviewed the Annual Engineer’s Report as presented, and is satisfied with each and all of the items and documents as set forth in such report, and is satisfied that the assessments, on a preliminary basis, have been allocated within the District in accordance with the special benefits received from the improvements to be maintained and serviced, as set forth in the Annual Engineer’s Report.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA,

HEREBY RESOLVES,
SECTION 1. Recitals. The above recitals are all true and correct.

SECTION 2. Annual Engineer’s Reports. The Annual Engineer’s Report for the District as presented, consisting of the following:

A. Plans and specifications describing the general nature, location and extent of the improvements to be maintained and serviced and the extent of such maintenance; B. An estimate of the cost of the maintenance of the improvements for the District for Fiscal Year 2023/24;
C. A diagram for the District, showing the area and properties proposed to be assessed; and D. An annual assessment for Fiscal Year 2023/24 of the estimated costs of the maintenance and servicing of those improvements to be maintained and serviced during such Fiscal Year, assessing the net amount upon all assessable lots and/or parcels within such District in proportion to the special benefits received is hereby approved on a preliminary basis and is ordered to be filed in the Office of the City Clerk as a permanent record and to remain open for public inspection.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 2 of 2
ATTACHMENT 26
SECTION 3.The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution, and the minutes of this meeting shall so reflect the presentation of the Annual Engineer’s Report.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this _______ of _____________ 2023.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 1 of 4
ATTACHMENT 27
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-XXX

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO

CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO

PROVIDE FOR THE ANNUAL LEVY AND COLLECTION OF
ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 WITHIN PARK AND
RECREATION IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. PD-85 AND SETTING A

TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING THEREON
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, California, has previously formed that certain maintenance district and authorized the levy of assessments therein pursuant to the terms and provisions of the “Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972,” being Division 15, Part 2 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California (commencing with Section 22500) (the “1972 Act”) in what is known and designated as Park and Recreation Improvement District No. PD-85 (the “District”); and WHEREAS, this City Council has initiated proceedings to provide for the annual levy of assessments for Fiscal Year 2023/24, to finance the costs and expenses necessary for continued maintenance and servicing of improvements within the District; and WHEREAS, at this time, there has been presented and approved by this City Council, a separate report for the District identified by the distinctive designation of such District and entitled “Fiscal Year 2023/24 Annual Engineer’s Report” (the “Annual Engineer’s Report”) as required pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 1 of the 1972 Act, Article XIIID of the Constitution of the State of California (“Article XIIID”) and the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act (Government Code Section 53750 and following) (the “Implementation Act”) (the 1972 Act, Article XIIID and the Implementation Act are referred to collectively as the “Assessment Law”), and this City Council desires to conduct the proceedings to authorize the levy of the annual assessments within the District; and
WHEREAS, the annual assessments for Fiscal Year 2023/24 proposed to be levied within the District as set forth in the report do not exceed the annual assessments as previously authorized to be levied within such District and, therefore, the proposed levy of assessments for Fiscal Year 2023/24 within such District are not deemed to be “increased” over the maximum authorized annual assessments.

NOW, THEREFORE, by the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, as follows:

SECTION 1. Recitals. The above recitals are all true and correct.

SECTION 2. Improvements and Maintenance and Servicing Thereof. The public interest and convenience requires the City Council, and it is the intention of this City Council, to undertake proceedings for the annual levy and collection of assessments within the District for the continued maintenance and servicing of the improvements authorized to be maintained and serviced within such District. "Maintenance" may include the furnishing of services and materials for the ordinary and usual maintenance, operation, and servicing of any improvement, including: (a) repair, removal, or replacement of all or any part of any improvement; (b) providing for the life, growth, health, and beauty of landscaping, including cultivation, irrigation, trimming, spraying, fertilizing, or treating for disease or injury; (c) the removal of trimmings, rubbish, debris, and other solid waste; and, (d) the cleaning, sandblasting, and painting of walls and other improvements to remove or cover graffiti. "Service" may include the furnishing of: (a) electric current or energy, gas, or other illuminating agent for the lighting or operation of any improvements; and, (b) water for the irrigation of any landscaping, the operation of any fountains, or the maintenance of any other improvements.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 2 of 4
ATTACHMENT 27
A description of the improvements to be maintained and the maintenance and services to be provided is set forth in Appendix A attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.

SECTION 3. Annual Engineer’s Report. The Annual Engineer’s Report regarding the annual levy for the District for Fiscal Year 2023/24, has been preliminarily approved and directed to be filed in the office the City Clerk. Reference is made to such Report for the District for a full and detailed description of the improvements to be maintained and serviced, the boundaries of such District and any zones therein, and the proposed assessments upon assessable lots and parcels of land within such District.

SECTION 4. Assessment. The public interest and convenience requires, and it is the intention of this City Council to order, the annual levy of assessments for the District as set forth and described in the Annual Engineer’s Report, and further it is determined to be in the best public interest and convenience to levy and collect annual assessments to pay the costs and expenses of such maintenance and service as estimated in such Annual Engineer’s Report.

SECTION 5. Boundaries of District. The proposed maintenance and service work as described in the Annual Engineer’s Report for the District is, in the opinion of this City Council, of special benefit to the properties within the boundaries of such District, and this City Council makes the costs and expenses of such maintenance and service chargeable upon such District, which District said City Council hereby declares to be the District specially benefited by such maintenance and service, and to be further assessed pursuant to the Assessment Law to pay the costs and expenses thereof. The District shall include each and every parcel of land within the boundaries thereof; as such District is shown on a map or maps as approved by this City Council and on file in the Office of the City Clerk, and so designated by the name of such District.

Noah Daniels
Finance Director
City of Rancho Cucamonga
10500 Civic Center Drive
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(909) 774-2403
SECTION 8. Notice. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish, pursuant to Government Code Section 6061, a copy of this Resolution in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, a newspaper of general circulation within said City, said publication shall be made one time and not less than ten (10) days before the date set for the Public Hearing.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 3 of 4
ATTACHMENT 27
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this _______ day of ____________ 2023.

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Resolution No. 2023-XXX – Page 4 of 4
ATTACHMENT 27
Appendix A
Descriptions of Improvements and Maintenance and Services This Appendix A contains a general description of the improvements to be maintained and serviced and a description of such maintenance and services.

1. The maintenance and operation of Heritage Community Park including, but not limited to, grading, planting, irrigation, onsite roads, sidewalks, parking lots, lighting, restrooms, equestrian facilities, playground equipment, picnic facilities, athletic facilities, and walking, jogging and equestrian trails and sanitary sewer connections.

2. The maintenance and operation of Red Hill Community Park including, but not limited to, grading, planting, irrigation, onsite roads, sidewalks, parking lots, lighting, waterscape, restrooms, senior citizen facilities, playground equipment, picnic facilities, major lighted athletic facilities, jogging trail, sanitary sewer connections and onsite drainage inlets.

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DATE:June 7, 2023
TO:Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM:John R. Gillison, City Manager
INITIATED BY: Jason Welday, Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer Fred Lyn, Deputy Director of Engineering Services/Utilities Deborah Allen, Management Analyst I
SUBJECT: Consideration to Approve the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility's Wildfire Mitigation Plan. (CITY)
RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility's (RCMU's) Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

BACKGROUND:

On September 21, 2018, then Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill ("SB") 901 requiring that publicly owned utilities ("POUs") prepare and present a Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) to its Governing Board by January 1, 2020, and each year thereafter. On July 12, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill ("AB") 1054 and AB 111 into law, requiring POUs including the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility (RCMU) to submit their WMP to a newly formed California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board ("WSAB”). The WSAB will review the POU's WMP and produce advisory opinions on their content and sufficiency, as well as provide recommendations on mitigating wildfire risk. As specified in Public Utilities Code § 8387(b)(1), each POU is required to update its WMP annually by July 1 and have it approved by its Governing Board. Additionally, each POU must perform a comprehensive revision to its WMP in 2023.

On December 18, 2019, the Rancho Cucamonga City Council approved RCMU’s first 2020 WMP, and the approved WMP was filed and submitted to the WSAB on March 18, 2020. The City Council approved RCMU’s 2021 WMP update on June 2, 2021, and the approved WMP was filed and submitted to the WSAB on June 17, 2021. The City Council also approved RCMU’s 2022 WMP update on June 15, 2022, and the approved WMP was filed and submitted to the WSAB on June 21, 2022.

Lastly, on September 19, 2018, the Rancho Cucamonga City Council approved Resolution 18103, in compliance with SB 1028 (2016), which determined that RCMU's service area was not located in an area that is considered an elevated or extreme risk of wildfires and that RCMU has zero (0) percent electric lines located overhead.

ANALYSIS:

The primary goal of RCMU's Wildfire Mitigation Plan ("WMP") is to describe RCMU’s existing programs, practices, and measures that effectively reduce the probability that RCMU’s electric

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1 8
1 8
supply system could be the origin or contributing source for the ignition of a wildfire. RCMU's WMP indicates its service area is considered "low risk" because it has 100% underground electric lines so the design, maintenance, and inspection meet all utility regulatory standards.

Secondly, RCMU lines are located almost two miles away from the nearest High and Very High Fire Severity Zones on the California Public Utilities Commission's Fire Threat Map.

The 2023 edition of the WMP is a comprehensive revision. This includes updating the WMP in the proposed template, adjusting performance metrics that are relevant to RCMU’s underground electrical infrastructure, providing expansion details of the early wildfire detection system, adding a new map, and inserting various photos. As part of the 2023 WMP, RCMU will track two metrics to measure the performance of this WMP: (1) number of fire ignitions; and (2) routine inspection for above-ground, utility-owned distribution systems components to mitigate potential wildfires.

On November 16, 2022, the WSAB provided RCMU and the other POUs its Guidance Advisory Opinion and identified five (5) specific recommendations that POUs were requested to address in their 2023 WMP comprehensive update. The attached 2023 WMP comprehensive update restates each of the WSAB recommendations in Section X of the document and RCMU provides a narrative response to each of the WSAB’s recommendations.

One of the last requirements of SB 901 is for RCMU's WMP to be evaluated by an independent evaluator. RCMU determined that the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District (Fire District) would be the most qualified independent evaluator based on their experience understanding the City's local fire risk and conditions. SB 901 requires that the independent evaluator issue a report on RCMU's WMP assessing the comprehensiveness of the plan, post the report on the City's website, and present it at a public meeting. The Fire District's report on RCMU's WMP will be considered by the City Council under a separate item at the June 7, 2023, City Council Meeting.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact in the approval of the RCMU Wildfire Mitigation Plan 2023 update.

COUNCIL MISSION / VISION / VALUE(S) ADDRESSED:

This item supports the City Council’s Core Values by promoting and enhancing a safe and healthy community for all by developing and updating a comprehensive Wildfire Mitigation Plan for its Municipal Utility to meet the community’s needs.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 - Wildfire Mitigation Plan 2023 Comprehensive Update

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1 Attachment 1
Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility

WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN

Adopted June 2023
Risk Category: Low | VERSION 1.2 – 2023 COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE Attachment 1

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. UTILITY OVERVIEW AND CONTEXT ........................................................................................................................ 4 A. UTILITY DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT SETTING TABLE....................................................................... 4 B. STATUTORY CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE........................................................................................................6 C. PROCESS FOR UTILITY ADOPTION AND SUBMITTAL OF ANNUAL WMP & OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT......................................................................................................... 8 D. DESCRIPTION OF WHERE WMP INFO CAN BE FOUND ON UTILITY WEBSITE .................. 8 E. PURPOSE OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN .................................................................................... 8 F. ORGANIZATION OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN ........................................................................9 II. OBJECTIVES OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN .....................................................................................9 A. MINIMIZING SOURCES OF IGNITION .................................................................................................................9 B. RESILIENCY OF THE ELECTRIC GRID ..............................................................................................................10 C. MINIMIZING UNNECESSARY OR INEFFECTIVE ACTIONS ..................................................................10 III. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ...............................................................................................................................10 A. RCMU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES- UTILITY GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE ....................10 B. COORDINATION WITH WATER UTILITIES ..................................................................................................... 11 C. COORDINATION WITH COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDERS ........................ 11 D. STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ................................................................... 12 IV. WILDFIRE RISKS AND DRIVERS ASSOCIATED WITH DESIGN CONSTRUCTION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ..................................................................................................................................... 13 A. PARTICULAR RISKS AND RISK DRIVERS ASSOCIATED WITH TOPOGRAPHIC AND CLIMATOLOGICAL RISK FACTORS .......................................................................................................................... 13 B. ENTERPRISE SAFETY RISKS .................................................................................................................................. 13 C. CHANGES TO THE CPUC FIRE THREAT MAP .............................................................................................14 V. WILDFIRE PREVENTATIVE STRATEGIES .............................................................................................................14 A. HIGH FIRE THREAT DISTRICT ...............................................................................................................................14 B. WEATHER MONITORING ......................................................................................................................................... 16 C. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS ............................................................................................. 16 D. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................................... 18 E. INSPECTIONS................................................................................................................................................................... 18 F. RECLOSER POLICY....................................................................................................................................................... 18 G. DEENERGIZATION ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 VI. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PUBLIC AWARENESS .................................................................................. 18 VII. RESTORATION OF SERVICE ........................................................................................................................................ 19 VIII. EVALUATING THE PLAN ............................................................................................................................................... 20 A. METRICS AND ASSUMPTIONS FOR MEASURING PLAN PERFORMANCE ............................. 20

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3 B. IMPACT OF METRICS ON PLAN ......................................................................................................................... 20 C.MONITORING AND AUDITING OF THE PLAN .............................................................................................. 21 D. IDENTIFYING AND CORRECTING DEFICIENCIES IN THE PLAN MONITORING ................... 21 E. MONITORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INSPECTIONS ....................................................................... 21 IX. INDEPENDENT AUDITOR ............................................................................................................................................. 21 X. WSAB GUIDANCE ADVISORY OPINION RECOMMENDATIONS (2023 UPDATE) ..................... 21

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4 I. UTILITY OVERVIEW AND CONTEXT
A. UTILITY DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT SETTING TABLE
Utility Name City of Rancho Cucamonga
Service Territory Size 4 square miles
Owned Assets 38 circuit miles of Underground Electric Distribution 42 miles of Underground Fiber Optics
Number of Customers
Served
2,800 electric customer accounts
Population Within
Service Territory
6,000 people (est.)
Customer Class
Makeup Number of Accounts Share of Total Load (MWh)

61% Residential
38% Small/Medium Business
1% Commercial/Industrial
6% Residential
59% Small/Medium Business
35% Commercial/Industrial
Service Territory
Location/Topography1
99% Urban
1% Shrub
Service Territory
Wildland Urban
Interface2
(Based on total area)
0% Wildland Urban Interface
0% Wildland Urban Intermix
Percent of Service
Territory in CPUC High
Fire Threat Districts
(Based on total area)
[X] Includes maps
Tier 2: 0%
Tier 3: 0%
Prevailing Wind
Directions & Speeds by
Season
The Santa Ana winds typically peaks in October and concludes in the Spring. Wind speed varies, but the wind directions are typically aligned in a northeast to southwest direction.

Miles of Owned Lines
Underground and/or
Overhead
Overhead Dist.: 0 miles
Overhead Trans.: 0 miles
Underground Dist.: 38 miles
Underground Trans.: 0 miles

Explanatory Note 1 - Methodology for measuring miles is based on RCMU’s final as-built distribution circuit maps.

Percent of Owned Lines
in CPUC High Fire
Threat Districts
Overhead Distribution Lines as % of Total Distribution System (Inside and Outside Service Territory)

Tier 2: 0%
Tier 3: 0%

Explanatory Note 1 – RCMU does not own any overhead lines inside or outside its service territory.

1 This data shall be based on the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Multi -Source Vegetation Layer Map, depicting WHR13 Types (Wildlife Habitat Relationship classes grouped into 13 major land cover types) available at: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=b7ec5d68d8114b1fb2bfbf4665989eb3 . 2 This data shall be based on the definitions and maps maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture, as most recently assembled in The 2010 Wildland -Urban Interface of the Conterminous United States, available at https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/rmap/rmap_nrs8.pdf .

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5 Customers have ever
lost service due to an
IOU PSPS event?
☐ Yes [X] No

Customers have ever
been notified of a
potential loss of service
to due to a forecasted
IOU PSPS event?
☐ Yes [X] No

Has developed
protocols to pre-
emptively shut off
electricity in response
to elevated wildfire
risks?
☐ Yes [X] No

Has previously pre-
emptively shut off
electricity in response
to elevated wildfire
risk?
☐ Yes [X] No
If yes, then provide the following data for calendar year 2022:

Number of shut-off events: 0
Customer Accounts that lost service for >10 minutes: 0
For prior response, average duration before service restored: N/A

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6 Map 1: RCMU Service Territory

B. STATUTORY CROSS -REFERENCE TABLE
Table 1: Cross References to Statutory Requirements
Requirement Statutory Language Location in
WMP
Persons
Responsible
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(A): An accounting of the
responsibilities of persons responsible for executing
the plan.

Section III.A

Objectives of
the Plan
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(B): The objectives of the wildfire
mitigation plan.

Section II

Preventive
Strategies
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(C): A description of the preventive
strategies and programs to be adopted by the local
publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative to minimize the risk of its electrical lines and equipment causing catastrophic wildfires, including consideration of dynamic climate change risks.

Section III.A

Evaluation
Metrics
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(D): A description of the metrics the
local publicly owned electric utility or electrical
cooperative plans to use to evaluate the wildfire
mitigation plan’s performance and the assumptions
that underlie the use of those metrics.

Section VIII.A

Impact of
Metrics
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(E): A discussion of how the application of previously identified metrics to previous wildfire
mitigation plan performances has informed the wildfire
mitigation plan.

Section VIII.B

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7 De-
energization
Protocols
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(F): Protocols for disabling reclosers
and deenergizing portions of the electrical
distribution system that consider the associated
impacts on public safety, as well as protocols related to mitigating the public safety impacts of those protocols, including impacts on critical first responders and on
health and communication infrastructure.

Section V.G

Customer
Notification
Procedures
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(G): Appropriate and feasible
procedures for notifying a customer who may be
impacted by the deenergizing of electrical lines. The
procedures shall consider the need to notify, as a priority, critical first responders, health care facilities, and
operators of telecommunications infrastructure.

Section VI

Vegetation
Management
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(H): Plans for vegetation management. Section V.D

Inspections
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(I): Plans for inspections of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s electrical infrastructure.

Section V.E
Section VIII.A
Section VIII.B

Prioritization
of Wildfire
Risks
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(J): A list that identifies, describes, and prioritizes all wildfire risks, and drivers for those risks, throughout the local publicly owned electric utility’s
or electrical cooperative’s service territory. The list shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following:

(i) Risks and risk drivers associated with design,
construction, operation, and maintenance of the local
publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s equipment and facilities.

(ii) Particular risks and risk drivers associated with
topographic and climatological risk factors throughout
the different parts of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s service territory.

Section V.C

CPUC Fire
Threat Map
Adjustments
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(K): Identification of any geographic
area in the local publicly owned electric utility’s or
electrical cooperative’s service territory that is a higher wildfire threat than is identified in a commission fire threat map, and identification of where the commission
should expand a high fire threat district based on new
information or changes to the environment.

Section V.A

Enterprise
wide Risks
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(L): A methodology for identifying and
presenting enterprise wide safety risk and wildfire-
related risk.

Section IV.B

Restoration of
Service
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(M): A statement of how the local
publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative will restore service after a wildfire.

Section VII

Monitor and
Audit
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(N): A description of the processes and procedures the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall use to do all of the following:

Section VIII.C

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8 (i) Monitor and audit the implementation of the
wildfire mitigation plan.
(ii) Identify any deficiencies in the wildfire
mitigation plan or in its implementation and correct
those deficiencies.
(iii) Monitor and audit the effectiveness of electrical line and equipment inspections, including
inspections performed by contractors, that are
carried out under the plan, other applicable
statutes, or commission rules.

Qualified
Independent
Evaluator
PUC § 8387(c): The local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall contract with a qualified
independent evaluator with experience in assessing the
safe operation of electrical infrastructure to review and assess the comprehensiveness of its wildfire mitigation plan. The independent evaluator shall issue a report that shall be made available on the Internet Web site of the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical
cooperative, and shall present the report at a public
meeting of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s governing board.

Section IX

C. PROCESS FOR UTILITY ADOPTION AND SUBMITTAL OF

ANNUAL WMP & OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
The Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility (RCMU ), a Publicly Owned Utility (POU), prepares the Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP). It is then placed on the City of Rancho Cucamonga City Council agenda. This agenda is posted three days before the meeting, so members of the public are aware that the WMP is being recommended by staff to be approved. It is typically placed on the Consent Calendar and can be pulled for discussion by any of the Council members or requested for discussion by members of the public.

D. DESCRIPTION OF WHERE WMP INFO CAN BE FOUND ON

UTILITY WEBSITE
The WMP, updates, and any associated approvals will be made available for public review on the City Council’s agenda located on the City’s website, as well as the City’s Council agenda posting located for viewing at Rancho Cucamonga City Hall. RCMU’s most recent Independent Evaluation (IE) Report and existing WMPs and updates are included on RCMU’s website located at https://www.cityofrc.us/rcmu. No discussion has occurred on whether any enhancements to future IE reports will be needed.

E. PURPOSE OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
RCMU’s entire electric supply system is located underground in conduit and vaults.

Historically, undergrounded electric lines have not been associated with catastrophic wildfires.

The undergrounding of electric lines serves as an effective mitigation measure to reduce the potential of power-line ignited wildfires. Based on a review of local conditions and historical fires, RCMU has determined that its electr ical lines and equipment do not pose a significant risk of catastrophic wildfire.

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9 Despite this low risk, RCMU has taken appropriate actions to help its region prevent and respond to the increasing risk of devastating wildfires. In its role as a public agency, the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District (Fire District) closely coordinates with other local safety and emergency officials to help protect against fires and respond to emergencies. In its role as a utility, RCMU follows all applicable design, c onstruction, operation, and maintenance requirements that reduce safety risks associated with its electric system. This Wildfire Mitigation Plan describes the safety-related measures that RCMU follows to reduce its risk of causing wildfires.

F. ORGANIZATION OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
This Wildfire Mitigation Plan included the following elements:
• Utility Overview and Context;
• Objectives of the plan;
• Roles and responsibilities for carrying out the plan; • Identification of key wildfire risks and risk drivers; • Description of Wildfire Mitigation Strategies;
• Metrics for measuring the performance of the plan and identifying areas for improvement;
• Annual and historical results for metrics;
• Description of community outreach and education

II. OBJECTIVES OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
A primary goal of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan is to
describe RCMU’s existing programs, practices, and
measures that effectively reduce the probability that
RCMU’s electric supply system could be the origin or
contributing source for the ignition of a wildfire. To
support this goal, RCMU regularly evaluates the
prudent and cost -effective improvements to its
physical assets, operations, and training that can help reduce the risk of equipment-related fires.

The secondary goal of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan is to improve the resiliency of the electric grid. As part of the development of this plan, RCMU assesses new industry practices and technologies that will reduce the likelihood of an interruption (frequency) in service and improve the restoration (duration) of service.

A. MINIMIZING SOURCES OF IGNITION
Another primary goal of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan is to minimize the probability that RCMU’s transmission and distribution system may be an original or contributing source for the ignition of a wildfire. RCMU has evaluated the prudent and cost-effective improvements to its physical assets, operations, and training that can help to meet this objec tive. RCMU had previously implemented those changes consistent with this evaluation as follows:

• RCMU’s entire electric supply system is located underground in conduit and vaults.

Historically, undergrounded electric lines have not been associated with catastrophic wildfires. The undergrounding of electric lines serves as an effective mitigation measure to reduce the potential of power -line ignited wildfires. Based on a review of local conditions and historical fires, RCMU has determined that its electrical lines and equipment do not pose a significant risk of catastrophic wildfire.

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10 • RCMU monitors wildfires in RCMU Service Area
• RCMU monitors wildfires in City boundaries NOT in RCMU Service Area that is within a 10-acre area
• RCMU monitors wildfires in City boundaries NOT in RCMU Service Area that is beyond the 10-acre area
B. RESILIENCY OF THE ELECTRIC GRID
The secondary goal of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan is to improve the resiliency of the electric grid. As part of the development of this plan, RCMU assesses new industry practices and technologies that will reduce the likelihood of a disruption in servic e and improve the restoration of service. RCMU has implemented those changes consistent with this evaluation and adjusted our 2023 WMP with the following adjustment:

• Added the metric “Number of Inspections for Distribution Step -Down Transformers”
• Added the metric “Number of Inspections Completed for Distribution Lines”

C. MINIMIZING UNNECESSARY OR INEFFECTIVE ACTIONS
The final goal of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan is to measure the effectiveness of specific wildfire mitigation strategies. Where a particular action, program, or protocol is determined to be unnecessary or ineffective, RCMU will assess whether a modification or replacement is merited. This plan will also help determine if more cost-effective measures would produce the same or better results. RCMU has implemented those changes consistent with this evaluation and adjusted our 2023 WMP with the following adjustment:

• Deleted the metric of “Wires Down” as RCMU’s entire electric supply system is located underground in conduit and vaults.

III. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. RCMU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES - UTILITY

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

Rancho Cucamonga City Council
City Manager
Deputy City Manager - Community Development
Director of Engineering Services / City Engineer
Deputy Director of Engineering Services /
Utilities (RCMU)

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11 RCMU’s staff and contractor’s roles and responsibilities for (1) electric facility design, maintenance, and inspection.
• Operate system in a manner that will minimize potential wildfire risks. • Take all reasonable and practicable actions to minimize the risk of a catastrophic wildfire caused by RCMU’s electric facilities.
• Coordinate with federal, state, and local fire management personnel as necessary or appropriate to implement RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan. • Immediately report fires, pursuant to existing RCMU practices and the requirements of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
• Take corrective action when the staff witnesses or is notified that fire prot ection measures have not been properly installed or maintained.

Comply with relevant federal, state, and industry standard requirements, including the industry standards established by the California Public Utilities Commission.

B. COORDINATION WITH WATER UTILITIES
RCMU does not serve sites that power any water utilities , water conveyance, or critical water facilities.

C. COORDINATION WITH COMMUNICATION

INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDERS
For the City and the Fire District, relevant lines of communication during emergencies include landline, cell phone, text messaging, and radio. During emergency scenes: same as above, plus radio communication via the 800 and VHF radios. In addition, during emergencies we can activate our Auxiliary Communications Service (ham radio) team to assist with first responders and the EOC during a wildfire incident.

Regarding the utility’s staff roles regarding fire prevention, response, and investigation, other than providing an agency representative during an emergency involving RCMU facilities there are no other roles needed since RCMU’s service area is outside of the wildfire threat area.

RCMU’s relationship with its investor-owned utility, Southern California Edison Company (SCE) during its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events is only at the Transmission and Sub - Transmission levels. It is important to note that SCE provides electricity to almost 85% of the City. For those residents, the City receives advanced email notifications that SCE will be exploring a possible PSPS event or has begun PSPS events at the Distribution circuit level. Any SCE PSPS outages occurring at the Distribution level will still affect a large majority of City residents and businesses served by SCE, but not RCMU powered customers or businesses.

RCMU’s custome rs will only be impacted by the PSPS events ordered by SCE, if the SCE Transmission and Sub-Transmission level lines are ordered to be de -energized. To date, SCE has informed RCMU that it does not intend to de -energize any of its Transmission and Sub - Transmission circuits, therefore, RCMU has not implemented a mitigation strategy for SCE’s PSPS, nor have we deenergized our own lines when a wildfire threat is looming. RCMU also does not have a distribution level generator allowing the utility to withstand a SCE Transmission and Sub-Transmission PSPS event should that ever occur.

In 2022, Rancho Cucamonga did not experience any wildfires, however, there was one (1) Red Flag warning event issued for the San Bernardino County area. In March 2022, the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District and RCMU partnered with a company called Lindsey FireSense to

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12 pilot 3 fire monitoring sensor cameras attached to RCMU’s street light poles along the City’s foothill area which includes the Tier 2 and 3 fire threat zones. Based on this pilot, RCMU and the Fire District will be expanding this project to capture additional significant data for future performance metrics and improve situational awareness for fire response.

D. STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
As a local governmental agency, 3 the City of Rancho Cucamonga has planning, communication, and coordination obligations pursuant to the California Office of Emergency Services’ Standardized Emergency Managem ent System (“SEMS”) Regulations, 4 adopted in accordance with Government Code section 8607. The SEMS Regulations specify roles, responsibilities, and structures of communications at five distinct levels: field response, local government, operational area, regional, and state. 5 Pursuant to this structure, the City of Rancho Cucamonga annually coordinates and communicates with the relevant safety agencies as well as other relevant local and state agencies. During emergencies, RCMU has a key role in ensuring utility operations at the field, local government, and operational area levels.

Under the SEMS structure, a significant amount of preparation is done through advanced planning at the local level, including the coordination of efforts of public, private, and nonprofit organizations. San Bernardino serves as the Operational Area and is guided by the San Bernardino County Operational Area Coordinating Council which is made up of representatives of all 24 Cities and Town’s. The Operational Area includes local and regional organizations that bring relevant expertise to the wildfire prevention and recovery planning process. These participants include local school districts, utilities, first responder agencies, non-profits (such as the United Way and/or the American Red Cross), all regional Hospitals, special districts, communications providers, and other similar organizations.

Pursuant to the SEMS structure, the City of Rancho Cucamonga also participates in annual emergency training exercises where the Fire District hosts a tabletop exercise with all City Department Directors including RCMU on a wildfire drill in our wildland-urban interface fire area. At a minimum, exercises will be provided on an annual basis by either the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District or by invitation from another supporting agency such as the County Operational Area.

3 As defined in Cal. Gov. Code § 8680.2.
4 19 CCR § 2407.
5 Cal. Gov. Code § 2403(b):
(1) “Field response level” commands emergency response personnel and resources to carry out tactical decisions and activities in direct response to an incident or threat. (2) “Local government level” manages and coordinates the overall emergency response and recovery activities within their jurisdiction.
(3) “Operational area level” manages and/or coordinates information, resources, and priorities among local governments within the operational area and serves as the coordination and communication link between the local government level and the regional level.
(4) “Regional lev el” manages and coordinates information and resources among operational areas within the mutual aid region designated pursuant to Government Code §8600 and between the operational areas and the state level. This level along with the state level coordinates overall state agency support for emergency response activities.
(5) “State level” manages state resources in response to the emergency needs of the other levels, manages and coordinates mutual aid among the mutual aid regions and between the regional lev el and state level, and serves as the coordination and communication link with the federal disaster response system.

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13 RCMU is a member of the California Utility Emergency Association, which is a State agency that plays a key role in ensuring communication and mutual aid between utilities during emergencies.

IV. WILDFIRE RISKS AND DRIVERS ASSOCIATED WITH

DESIGN CONSTRUCTION OPERATION AND

MAINTENANCE
A. PARTICULAR RISKS AND RISK DRIVERS ASSOCIATED WITH

TOPOGRAPHIC AND CLIMATOLOGICAL RISK FACTORS
Within RCMU’s service territory and the surrounding areas, the primary risk drivers for wildfire are the following:
• High Temperature
• Low Humidity
• Hillside Terrain
• Fire Weather Conditions
• Prolonged Drought
• Climate Change
• Fire History
B. ENTERPRISE SAFETY RISKS
Fire risks due to topographical and climatological factors are determined to be “Low” [Tier 1 (i.e. low risk)] within RCMU’s service area. The description of tiered fire threat zones is shown in Table 2 below.

Table 2: Description of Tiered Fire Threat Zones

Zone Category Description

Tier 3

Extreme
Wildland areas where exposure to overhead power lines, the availability of water resources, and emergency responder circulation routes affect response times to combat wildland fires.

Tier 2 Elevated Elevated risk due to vegetation, high voltage regional transmission lines crossing the area, and adjacency to Tier 3 fire threat zones.

Tier 1 Low Well developed areas, typically with underground high voltage circuitry.

On September 19, 2018, the Rancho Cucamonga City Council adopted Resolution No. 18 -103 which made a determination that RCMU's current service area is not located in an area that is considered an elevated or extreme risk of electric line wildfires; has 0 percent overhead electric lines and equipment and does not pose a significant risk of causing wildfires.

RCMU continues to be actively involved in the California Municipal Utilities Association’s (CMUA’s) Wildfire Preparedness and Response Working Group to h elp identify any unidentified risks. In May 2022, the Working Group focused on risk drivers for powerline caused catastrophic wildfires and innovative mitigation options. CMUA invited a broad range of utility staff, state agency staff including the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board (WSAB), industry experts,

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14 and academics to participate in this discussion. The Working Group will continue to discuss unidentified wildfire risk drivers and mitigation measures that could address these risks. Based on the input pro vided during this meeting, CMUA will produce a publicly available, post - meeting report that summarizes the group’s conclusions and recommendations. RCMU’s staff will participate in CMUA’s meeting and will discuss any changes that RCMU has made to its operations in response to the conclusions and recommendations of the Working Group in a future WMP.

In a continuous effort to review and improve on any wildfire risks in March 2022, the Fire District and RCMU partnered with a company called Lindsey FireSense to pilot 3 fire monitoring sensor cameras attached to RCMU’s street light poles along the City’s foothill area which includes the Tier 2 and 3 fire threat zones. The Rancho Cucamonga Fire District will be expanding this program next fiscal year as funding for this project was recently received. This will include the installation of a 30 -camera unit, an early wildfire detection system along the City’s northern boundary. The system will provide rapid detection, reporting, and response to wildfires. As the RCMU territory continues to grow, we may need to expand our metrics based on this monitoring system. See the Press Release below regarding these efforts.

C. CHANGES TO THE CPUC FIRE THREAT MAP
There were no changes to the CPUC Fire Threat Map during this period.

V. WILDFIRE PREVENTATIVE STRATEGIES
A. HIGH FIRE THREAT DISTRICT

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15 RCMU, as a member of the California Municipal Utilities Association participated in the development of the CPUC’s Fire-Threat Map,6 which designates a High-Fire Threat District. In the CPUC Fire -Threat map development process, RCMU coordinated with SCE and determined that because RCMU’s system is entirely undergrounded, that SCE would serve as territory lead for the region served by R CMU. RCMU has incorporated the High Fire Threat District into its construction, inspection, maintenance, repair, and clearance practices, where applicable.

Map 2: High Fire Threat District Map

Additionally, the Rancho Cucamonga City Council, acting as the Board of Directors of the Fire District also adopt ed a Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area Map for the City (see the map below), referring to the zone where undeveloped, wildland vegetation transitions to developed land such as residential neighborhoods which are at risk of wildfires.

6 Adopted by CPUC Decision 17-12-024.

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16 Rancho Cucamonga Fire District’s Wildland Urban Interface Map 3: Fire Area Map with RCMU Electrical Circuits

B. WEATHER MONITORING
RCMU does not have any real -time wind direction and weather condition technology equipment installed that is able to track wind and weather conditions by season. The lack of funds and budget to sustain staffing and qualified professionals to monitor this d ata is challenging in that neither the utility nor other City Departments have the additional time or resources to track and monitor this information. However, the Emergency Management Division within the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District does receive consist ent briefing reports from the National Weather Service (NWS) San Diego Office, which covers our City and County. This briefing provides an overview of significant weather that may impact our area. These reports allow our team to increase our awareness and preparedness for upcoming events. If an event has the potential for severe implications including wind and weather conditions, NWS – San Diego will host conference calls leading up to the event so the affected jurisdictions can gather additional data in order to make critical decisions on how to manage any potential damage and disruption in services. Emergency Management will coordinate this information with our internal city stakeholders such as RCMU so collectively decisions can be made to preserve safety for our residents, especially during the high Santa Ana wind season.

C. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS
RCMU’s electric facilities are designed and constructed to meet or exceed the relevant federal, state, or industry standard. RCMU treats CP UC General Orders (GO) 128 as a key industry standard for design and construction standards for underground electrical facilities. Since RCMU has a 100% underground system, the CPUC’s G.O. 95 overhead construction standards

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17 do not apply. Additionally, RCM U monitors and follows, as appropriate, the National Electric Safety Code.

RCMU’s approach to grid hardening is discussed in this subsection and the other subsections below. RCMU’s 100% underground design and construction standards and field inspections of critical electrical equipment are some of its key grid hardening programs. Historically, undergrounded electric lines have not been associated with catastrophic wildfires. The undergrounding of electric lines serves as an effective grid hardening measur e that reduces the potential of power -line ignited wildfires. The goal of RCMU’s program is prevention and mitigation response versus reaction in its system hardening and grid design. The responses below were specific questions included in the WSAB’s 2021 Guidance Advisory Opinion that provides a comprehensive context of the RCMU Territory. • Does the POU perform a circuit -by-circuit analysis to identify essential facilities (and whether they have backup power) like hospitals, communication centers, and community resource centers?
RCMU’s Response: Yes, RCMU does have a circuit-by-circuit analysis which identifies essential facilities within its service area. The analysis does not identify whether those facilities have their own backup power.
• Does the POU assess system hardening measures that could be installed to prevent PSPS for those facilities?
RCMU’s Response: N/A. RCMU’s system is already designed to be 100% underground.
• In what way does the POU prepare these facilities for a PSPS or another wildfire related de-energization event?
RCMU’s Response: N/A. RCMU is not affected by the IOU’s PSPS de -energization event and its facilities are not located in a wildfire area. • For POUs that power water utilities or supply water themselves, if that water is used for drinking and firefighting, are certain projects being undertaken to harden the system for water delivery purposes?
RCMU’s Response: N/A. RCMU does not serve sites t hat power any water utilities or water conveyance.
• Are pump stations self -contained or have some level of fire protection? Is the supply to sewage treatment plants hardened?
RCMU’s Response: N/A. RCMU does not serve any pump stations or sewage treatment plants.
• Is supplemental generation available such as backup batteries or backup power facilities?
RCMU’s Response: No, RCMU does not provide supplemental generation. • Are the majority installed by the customers themselves or the utility? RCMU’s Response: Unknown: If any supplemental generation is installed, it is done by the customers and not installed by the utility.
• Can the utility open and close taps? Can the utility back-feed?

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18 RCMU’s Response: No, RCMU cannot control the taps of the customer’s backup / supplemental generation.
• Are there wildfire related circumstances wherein either of these tactics would be useful?
RCMU’s Response: N/A
• Can the utility sectionalize in a localized fashion?
RCMU’s Response: N/A
D. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
RCMU has a 100% underground electric system, so the standard vegetation management practices do not apply to RCMU.

E. INSPECTIONS
RCMU meets or exceeds the minimum inspection requirements provided in the CPUC’s GO 165 (Inspection Requirements for Electric Distribution Facilities) by annually patrolling all pad mounted Transformers, Switches and Capacitors, with a deta iled inspection every 5 years.

Pursuant to these rules, utilities inspect electric facilities in the High Fire Threat District more frequently than the other areas of its service territory. As described above, RCMU currently does not have any overhead po werlines located within or near the High -Fire Threat District within the CPUC’s Fire Threat Map. However, RCMU staff uses their knowledge of the specific environmental and geographical conditions of RCMU’s service territory to determine if any particular areas require more frequent inspections if necessary.

If RCMU staff discovers a facility in need of repair that is owned by an entity other than RCMU, RCMU will issue a notice to repair to the facility owner and work to ensure that necessary repairs are completed promptly.

F. RECLOSER POLICY
RCMU does n ot have any automatic reclosers deployed downstream of RCMU’s Arbors substation. All of RCMU’s circuit breakers have reclosing functionality which is conducted manually by a lineman in the field. RCMU’s system currently does not have this capability to be controlled by a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) or other remote controls.

RCMU has the capability, should it be deemed necessary, to change the relay or reclosing settings during adverse conditions.

G. DEENERGIZATION
RCMU has the authority to preemptively shut off power due to fire-threat conditions, however, this option will only be used in extraordinary emergency circumstances. Due to the minimal risk of RCMU’s electrical supply facilities causing a power -line ignited wildfire, RCMU is not adopting specific protocols for de -energizing any portions of its electric distribution system.

RCMU will re-evaluate this determination in future updates to this Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

VI. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PUBLIC AWARENESS
RCMU works closely with the City's Community Affairs Network (CAN) which serves as the conduit for exceptional relationships and trusted information within the community. RCMU relies on CAN to disseminate key information to customers, residents, and other stakeholders.

Vital shared information may include, but is not limited to severe weather updates, utility service interruptions, wildfire or other emergencies, and potential or active Public Safety

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19 Power Shutoff notifications, in coordination with other ut ility providers. This is done via the City’s/Fire District’s social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Nextdoor, and the City’s website.

VII. RESTORATION OF SERVICE
In the unlikely event of a wildfire or other emergency event caused by or af fecting RCMU’s electric system, that would require a public safety power shutoff, the City of Rancho Cucamonga will maintain a proactive plan to communicate with the community during high fire threat periods and disasters.
• Coordinate with the Fire District and the Rancho Cucamonga Police through the City’s EOC during emergencies or large-scale outages.
• Expand social media for the public to see current outages and estimated restoration times in coordination with the City’s Communications Team. • Communication plans through the City’s EOC will allow RCMU to coordinate with applicable emergency service personnel along with maintaining open lines of communication with customers, media, and internal City staff.

RCMU will work as quickly as possible to res tore power safely, following an event, in cooperation with the City’s Fire District, Police, and Public Works Departments. RCMU will also engage its on-call high voltage contractors as-needed.

RCMU staff and its contractors will ensure which circuits are t o be brought up safely and that any vital loads are restored first followed by non -vital loads. In most cases, the following restoration priorities will be followed depending on the specific incident and available resources:
• Public safety in the affected areas
• Worker safety in performing the restoration work
• Life-support or critical customers
• Critical infrastructure (Key City facilities, City Police and Fire Departments, other key utility facilities (e.g., fiber communications)
• Major commercial activities/accounts critical to continuity of community services (e.g., gas stations, food stores, home supply stores, repair shops, eateries , and lodging facilities, financial institutions, etc.)
• To reduce the total number of customers affected
• To reduce the length of time customers have been without power.

In directing restoration efforts to best achieve the above priorities, RCMU Staff will generally find it most efficient to dedicate restoration resources to the following types of facilities in the following order of priority to optimally restore electric services:
• Arbors Substation located on Rochester Avenue and Stadium Way • All Distribution circuits (12 kV)
• Distribution feeders
• Distribution transformers
• Service lines

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20 VIII. EVALUATING THE PLAN
A. METRICS AND ASSUMPTIONS FOR MEASURING PLAN

PERFORMANCE
RCMU will track two metrics to measure the performance of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan: (1) number of fire ignitions; and (2) inspections for above -ground, utility -owned distribution systems components.

Metric 1: FIRE IGNITIONS
For purposes of this metric, a fire ignition is defined as follows:
• RCMU facility was associated with the fire
• The fire was self -propagating and of a material other than electrical and/or communication facilities
• The resulting fire traveled greater than one linear meter from the ignition point; and • RCMU has knowledge that the fire occurred
RCMU will provide the number of fires that occurred that were less than 10 acres in size. Any fires greater than 10 acres will be individually described.

Metric 2: ROUTINE INSPECTIONS OF ABOVE-GROUND, UTILITY -OWNED DISTRIBUTION

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
For purposes of this metric, the routine inspections for above-ground, utility -owned distribution systems components are defined as follows:

Inspections of:
• Distribution Step-Down Transformers
• Distribution Lines
B. IMPACT OF METRICS ON PLAN

Table 3: RCMU 2022 Performance Metrics
Metric 1: Fire Ignitions

CY 2022
# of Fire Ignition in RCMU Service Area 0
# of wildfires in City boundaries NOT in
RCMU Service Area (<10 acres)
0 # of wildfires in City boundaries NOT in
RCMU Service Area (> 10 acres)
0 Metric 2: Above-Ground Utility-Owned
Distribution System Components
CY 2022
# of Inspections for Distribution Step-
Down Transformers
2 # of Inspections Completed for
Distribution Lines
0 # of Re Flag warnings issued 1

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21 C. MONITORING AND AUDITING OF THE PLAN
This Wildfire Mitigation Plan will be presented to the Rancho Cucamonga City Council and RCMU staff will present updates to this plan on an annual basis. Additionally, a qualified independent evaluator will review this plan and determine its compliance to the Rancho Cucamonga City Council.

The WMP, updates and any associated approvals will be made available for public review on the City Council’s agenda located on the City’s website, as well as the City’s Council agenda posting located for viewing at Rancho Cucamonga City Hall. RCMU’s most recent Independent Evaluation Report and existing WMPs and updates are included on RCMU’s website located at https://www.cityofrc.us/rcmu. A discussion of the new metric was discussed between the Fire District and RCMU Staff and is listed in this 2023 WMP update.

D. IDENTIFYING AND CORRECTING DEFICIENCIES IN THE

PLAN MONITORING
Based on the recommendations of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council, RCMU will correct any identified deficiencies and/or recommendations, as appropriate in the WSAB’s Guidance Advisory Opinions. This document also represents the combined effort of the POU industry associations to further the development of a template to re spond to the WSAB’s Guidance Advisory Opinion in future reporting WMP cycles.

E. MON ITORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INSPECTIONS
A key mitigation measure against wildfires is vegetation management. Since RCMU has a 100% underground electric system, the standard vegetation management inspections do not apply to RCMU. However, RCMU added the metric of inspections for above ground transformers and distribution lines. Hence, we see the value of adding these inspections to our metrics to improve and support our wildfire mitigation efforts.

IX. INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
Public Utilities Code section 8387(c) requires RCMU to contract with a qualified independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure to review and assess the comprehensiveness of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan. The independent evaluator must issue a report that is posted on the City’s website. This report must also be presented to the Rancho Cucamonga City Council at a public meeting.

In evaluating and selecting an independent evaluator as required in PUC Section 8387(c), the City determined that the Fire District is the most qualified independent evaluator who understands the local conditions and fire risks for the City of Rancho Cucamonga and is aware that RCMU’s service area is located in a low -risk fire threat zone with 100% underground electric wire equipment.

The City believes that the Fire District is qualified to review the comprehensiveness of the RCMU Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

X. WSAB GUIDANCE ADVISORY OPINION
RECOMMENDATIONS (2023 UPDATE)
On November 16, 2022, the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board (WSAB) issued its Guidance Advisory Opinion identifying some specific recommendations that POUs are requested to address in

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22 their 2022 WMPs. This Section IX. restates each of the WSAB recommendations where RCMU provides a response.

WSAB Recommendation #1: The WSAB appreciates Rancho Cucamonga’s continued inclusion of a context-setting template and the addition of the statutory cross-reference table near the front of their 2022 WMP. The WSAB also appreciates that the utility updated their template with revised customer information – these templates need to be kept up-to-date as utility circumstances change, particularly wit h relation to assets in high wildfire threat areas. The WSAB encourages Rancho Cucamonga to continue including and updating this information and consider the proposed template in Appendix 1 as they prepare and file their 2023 comprehensive revision WMP.

RCMU’s Response: RCMU has updated our WMP based on the proposed template listed in the Guidance Advisory Opinion for the 2023 Wildfire Mitigation Plans of Electric Publicly Owned Utilities and Rural Electric Cooperatives document.

WSAB Recommendation #2: The WSAB appreciates Rancho Cucamonga’s clear and prominent website location for WMP information and the inclusion of some historical WMP information, as well as the addition of a paragraph and link to that information in the 2022 WMP itself as requested. The WSA 2 WMP B notes that the 2022 update WMP appears not to be available on the page and encourages Rancho Cucamonga to keep the page up-to-date.

RCMU’s Response: RCMU has posted the current version of the WMP on its website. We have deleted the historical versions to present the most recent information. These streamlining efforts should alleviate any electronic access issues.

WSAB Recommendation #3: The WSAB appreciates Rancho Cucamonga’s many changes in the 2022 WMP from the 2021 version, including new paragraphs describing coordination with SCE, discussing outage communication in more detail, talking about weather data monitoring, and describing the underground nature of Rancho’s assets along with additional information from the previous informational response. In addition, the WSAB appreciates Rancho Cucamonga including some responsive text to the 2022 Guidance Advisory Opinion but notes that it appears the specific Rancho Cucamonga points in that document were not addressed. The WSAB encourages Rancho Cucamonga to continue a relatively robust practice of updating their WMPs.

RCMU’s Response : RCMU has completed a robust update for our 2023 WMP. We anticipate continuing to make improvements as deemed fit in our role as an electric utility.

WSAB Recommendation #4: The WSAB applauds the new situational awareness pilot at Rancho Cucamonga, adding three fire -monitoring sensor cameras along the foothills, including pictures and maps related to that new effort. Given the low likelihood of catastrophic wildfire for Rancho Cucamonga, this addition shows a proactive approach to preventing and mitigating potential wildfires, even those not utility related.

RCMU’s Response: RCMU is building upon these efforts and will be placing additional cameras throughout the community as funding becomes available. These efforts should assist with ongoing fire prevention and early detection activities and further enhance the city as a world class community. As RCMU territory continues to grow, we will explore additional metrics relating to this new technology.

WSAB Recommendation #5: The WSAB notes that Rancho Cucamonga still included a generic “wires down” metric in their WMP, even with all assets reportedly underground. The WSAB appreciates the updated metric tracking results in the WMP but encourages Rancho Cucamonga to consider more relevant metrics, including performance metrics, in their 2023 comprehensive revision WMP.

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23 RCMU’s Response: RCMU has replaced the metric of “wires down” and added the new metric “ inspections”. This new performance metric is relevant for our underground infrastructure, and we look forward to providing this information to demonstrate RCMU’s efforts to mitigate potential wildfires.

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24 END OF DOCUMENT

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DATE:June 7, 2023
TO:President and Members of the Board of Directors
FROM:John R. Gillison, City Manager
INITIATED BY: Mike McCliman, Fire Chief
Ty Harris, Deputy Fire Chief
Rob Ball, Fire Marshal
Joseph Ramos, Emergency Management Coordinator
SUBJECT: Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District's Independent Evaluation of Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility's Wildfire Mitigation Plan. (FIRE) RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends the Board of Directors of the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District receive and file the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District's (District) Independent Evaluation of Rancho Cucamonga's Municipal Utility's (RCMU) Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP).

BACKGROUND:

On September 21, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill (SB) 901 which states a Publicly Owned Utility (POU) must prepare and present a WMP to its Governing Board before January 1, 2020, and each year thereafter. SB 901 substantially revised the Public Utilities Code Section 8387, making it mandatory for all POUs (regardless of size or wildfire risk) to develop a wildfire mitigation plan. SB 901 also requires each POU to, "contract with a qualified independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure to review and assess the comprehensiveness of its wildfire mitigation plan." SB 901 requires that the independent evaluator present the report at a public meeting to the POU's governing body.

Beginning on December 18, 2019, RCMU presented its WMP to the City Council for its approval.

Most recently, on June 7, 2023, RCMU presented its comprehensive WMP to the City Council for their approval. Upon approval of the WMP and acceptance of the District's independent evaluation, RCMU will also post the independent evaluation on the City’s website for residents’ knowledge and to fulfill SB 901 requirements.

ANALYSIS:

The primary goal of the independent evaluation is to determine if RCMU has limited or mitigated, to the extent possible, wildfire risk and if RCMU is fulfilling the state requirements which will reduce the opportunity of a wildfire occurring within RCMU's service area due to RCMU’s electrical infrastructure.

The District, through several engagements with RCMU staff, has determined that RCMU is at low risk for wildfire within its service area. This is due to RCMU being outside of Cal Fire‘s High and Very High Fire Severity Zones by almost 2 miles. RCMU’s electrical lines are 100% underground in which the design, maintenance, and inspection meet all utility regulatory standards. In addition, on September 19, 2018, the Rancho Cucamonga City Council approved Resolution 18-103, in

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Page 2 ends

1 8
1 9
compliance with SB 1028 (2016), page 337 which determined that RCMU's service area was not located in an area that is considered an elevated or extreme risk of wildfires and that RCMU has no electric lines that are located overhead.

Despite the low risk, RCMU will track two metrics, the second of which has been updated, to measure the performance of this WMP: 1) number of fire ignitions and 2) routine inspection for above-ground, utility-owned distribution systems components. The Fire District concludes that RCMU' s WMP comprehensively addresses all the applicable statutorily required elements for a Publicly Owned Utility‘s WMP as specified in California Public Utilities Code section 8387.

The District further finds that RCMU has taken reasonable actions to minimize the risk that their lines or equipment will cause a wildfire.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact to the Fire District for creating the independent evaluation.

COUNCIL MISSION / VISION / VALUE(S) ADDRESSED:

This item supports the City Council's General Plan Public Safety goal which strives to maintain the appropriate level of preparedness for natural and human-caused disasters and threats by supporting and developing an independent evaluation of RCMU' s Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 - RCFD Independent Evaluation of RCMU WMP

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RANCHO CUCAMONGA

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

INDEPENDENT EVALUAT ION OF

THE RANCHO CUCAMONGA
MUNICIPAL UTILITY’S (RCMU)

WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
City Council Approved: June 7, 2023
Attachment 1

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Wildfire Mitigation Plan Requirements ................................................................................................... 1 A. Senate Bill 901 ....................................................................................................................................... 1 B. AB 1054 & AB 111 ................................................................................................................................. 1 C. RCMU’s WMP Requirements .............................................................................................................. 1 II. Description of Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility ........................................................................ 4 III. Independent Evaluation .................................................................................................................... 4 A. Independent Evaluator Requirement ............................................................................................. 4 B. Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District Qualifications ....................................................... 4 C. Evaluation Methodology ................................................................................................................... 5 D. Metrics .................................................................................................................................................... 5 IV. Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan ............................................................................... 6 A. Minimizing Wildfire Risks....................................................................................................................... 6 B. Evaluation of WMP Elements ............................................................................................................. 6 V. Results and Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 10

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Independent Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan June 7, 2023
1 I. WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN REQUIREMENTS
A. SENATE BILL 901
Senate Bill (SB) 901 (2018) requires all publicly owned electric utilities (POUs), including the City’s Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility (RCMU) to prepare and present a wildfire mitigation plan (WMP) to its governing board prior to January 1, 2020, and annually thereafter. SB 901 identifies specific topics that must be addressed in each POU’s WMP, including descri bing the POU’s wildfire mitigation preventative strategies and programs . POUs must also have their plan reviewed by a qualified independent evaluator to assess the comprehensiveness of the plan.

This report serves as the independent evaluation of RCMU’s WMP in compliance with SB 901.

B. AB 1054 & AB 111
Assembly Bill (AB) 1054 (2019) and AB 111 (2019) created a new state agency called the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board (“Board”) , is made up of seven members, five appointed by the Governor, one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one appointed by the Senate Rules Committee. AB 1054 requires that every POU must submit its WMP to the Board by July 1 of each year, star ting in 2020. The Board will then review the POU WMP and provide comments and advisory opinions on the content and sufficiency of the WMP.

C. RCMU ’S WMP REQUIREMENTS
California Public Utilities Code (PUC) § 8387(b)(2) lists the statutory requirements for RCMU’s WMP. These are the specific elements that the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District must review in order to make its determination for this report. The following list provides the specific elements that must be addressed in RCMU’s WMP:
• Responsibilities: An accounting of the responsibilities of persons responsible for executing the plan. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(A))
• Objectives: The objectives of the wildfire mitigation plan. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(B)) • Preventive Strategies : A description of the preventive strategies and programs to be adopted by the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative to minimize the risk of its electrical lines and equipment causing catastrophic wildfires, including consideration of dynamic climate change risks. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(C)) • Evaluation Metrics: A description of the metrics the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative plans to use to evaluate the wildfire mitigation plan's

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Independent Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan June 7, 2023
2 performance and the assumptions that underlie the use of those metrics. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(D))
• Impact of Metrics: A discussion of how the application of previously identified metrics to previous wildfire mitigation plan performances has informed the wildfire mitigation plan. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(E))
• Recloser and/or De-energization Protocols : Protocols for disabling reclosers and deenergizing portions of the electrical distribution system that consider the associated impacts on public safety, as well as protocols related to mitigating the public safety impacts of those protocols, including impa cts on critical first responders and on health and communication infrastructure. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(F)) • Customer Notification Procedures : Appropriate and feasible procedures for notifying a customer who may be impacted by the deenergizing of electrical line s. The procedures shall direct notification to all public safety offices, critical first responders, health care facilities, and operators of telecommunications infrastructure with premises within the footprint of potential deenergization for a given event. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(G)) • Vegetation Management: Plans for vegetation management. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(H)) • Inspections: Plans for inspections of the local publicly owned electric utility's or electrical cooperative's electrical infrastructure. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(I)) • Prioritization of Wildfire Risks: A list that identifies, describes, and prioritizes all wildfire risks, and drivers for those risks, throughout the local publicly owned electric utility's or electrical cooperative's service territory. The list shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following:
o Risks and risk drivers associated with design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the local publicly owned electric utility's or electrical cooperative's equipment and facilities. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(J)(i))
o Particular risks and risk drivers associated with topographic and climatological risk factors throughout the different parts of the local publicly owned electric utility's or electrical cooperative's service territory. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(J(ii)) • CPUC Fire Threat Map Adjustments : Identification of any geographic area in the local publicly owned electric utility's or electrical cooperative's service territory that is a higher wildfire threat than is identified in a commission fir e threat map, and identification of where the commission should expand a high fire-threat district based on new information or changes to the environment. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(K))

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Independent Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan June 7, 2023
3 • Enterprise wide Risks: A methodology for identifying and presenting enterprisewide safety risk and wildfire-related risk. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(L)) • Restoration of Service : A statement of how the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative will restore service after a wildfire. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(M)) • Monitor and Audit : A description of the processes and procedures the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall use to do all of the following:
o Monitor and audit the implementation of the wild fire mitigation plan. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(N)(i))
o Identify any deficiencies in the wildfire mitigation plan or its implementation and correct those deficiencies. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(N)(ii))
o Monitor and audit the effectiveness of electrical line and equipment inspections, including inspections performed by contractors, that are carried out under the plan, other applicable statutes, or commission rules. (PUC § 8387(b)(2)(N)(iii))

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Independent Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan June 7, 2023
4 II. DESCRIPTION OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA MUNICIPAL UTILITY The Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility (RCMU) provides economic and reliable electricity to over 2,800 metered businesses and residents in a selected area within the Southeastern portion of the City of Rancho Cucamonga. RCMU’s service area is located in an urban area that is categorized in the “Low” – Tier 1 (Low Risk) fire threat category. Additionally, RCMU’s electric system is 100% undergrounded, which serves as an effective mitigation measure to reduce the potential of any power-line ignited wildfires.

Despite its low risk, RCMU has taken appropriate actions to help its region prevent and respond to the increasing risk of devastating wildfire s by following all applicable design, construction, operation, and maintenance requirements that reduce safety risks associated with its electric system. This Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) describes the safety-related measures that RCMU follows to reduce its risk of causing wildfires.

III. INDEPENDENT EVALUATION
A. INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR REQUIREMENT
SB 901 requires each POU to “contract with a qualified independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure to review and assess the comprehensiveness of its wildfire mitigation plan. ”1 Additionally, the independent evaluator’s assessment of the comprehensiveness of the POU WMP must be issued in a report th at is both posted to the POU’s website and presented at a public meeting of the POU’s governing board.

B. RANCHO CUCAMONGA FIRE PROTE CTION DISTRICT

QUALIFICATIONS
SB 901 requires that the qualified independent evaluator that performs the assessment of RCMU’s WMP must have experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure.

RCMU has determined that the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District ( Fire District) is the most qualified independent evaluator who understands the local conditions and fire risks for the City of Rancho Cucamonga and is aware of the RCMU service area. The Fire District has served the City of Rancho Cucamonga area since 1975.

1 Cal. Pub. Util.Code § 8387(c).

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Independent Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan June 7, 2023
5 C. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY
The Fire District will evaluate the comprehensiveness the RCMU’s WMP on the following measures:
• Statutory Compliance: The Fire District will ensure that each required element specified in SB 901 (as listed in Section II.C. above) is either addressed in RCMU’s WMP or RCMU has sufficiently described why that element is not a pplicable due to RCMU’s size, geography, system, or other relevant factor.

• Industry Comparison: The Fire District is familiar with existing industry practices and has reviewed the Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) WMPs previously filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).2 The Fire District has compared RCMU’s WMP against existing practices and any comparable actions planned by the IOUs.

• Physical Inspections: Because of the Fire District’s role in Rancho Cucamonga, the Fire District has access to and regularly inspects City facilities as needed, including electrical infrastructure. Therefore, the Fire District has access to a ll data on the fire mitigation decisions and performance of RCMU. The Fire District’s evaluation of the RCMU WMP draws upon this historical data and expertise in fire prevention and safety.

D. METRICS
The RCMU WMP proposes the following metrics to measure performance of its wildfire mitigation measures: (1) number of fire ignitions,3 and (2) inspections of above -ground, utility- owned distribution system components . 4 The Fire District has determined that these are appropriate metrics for this initial WM P. The Fire District will evaluate the metrics selected in Phase 2 of the CPUC’s current Wildfire Mitigation Plan rulemaking for the IOUs (R.18-10-007) and determine if any additional metrics should be incorporated into future RCMU WMPs.

2 IOU WMPs are available at: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/SB901/. 3 For purposes of this metric, a fire ignition is defined as follows: (i) RCMU facility was associated with the fire; (ii) the fire was self-propagating and of a material other than electrical and/or communication facilities; (iii) the resulting fire traveled greater than one linear meter from the ignition point; and (iv) RCMU has knowledge that the fire occurred.
4 For purposes of this metric, a routine inspection for above-ground, utility-owned distribution systems components includes inspections of distribution substations (step-down transformers) and distribution lines.

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Independent Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan June 7, 2023
6 IV. EVALUATION OF RCMU’S WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
A. MINIMIZING WILDFIRE RISKS
California Public Utilities Code section 8387(a) requires the following:

Each local publicly owned electric utility and electrical cooperative shall construct, maintain, and operate its electrical lines and equipment in a manner that will minimize the risk of wildfire posed by those electrical lines and equipment.

The Fire District has determined that RCMU complies with this standard due to the construction of RCMU’s equipment and resources not being located in an area that is considered an elevated or extreme risk of electric line wildfire. Also, with RCMU’s electrical lines being entirely underground, this significantly decreases the opportunity for wildfires to occur above ground during high fire danger conditions. This was also addressed and discussed by the Rancho Cucamonga City Council via resolution No. 18-103 on September 19, 2018.

B. EVALUATION OF WMP ELEMENTS
The following table lists each required element for RCMU’s WMPs and provides the Fire District’s assessment of the comprehensiveness of that element within RCMU’s WMP.

Required Element of WMP Location
in WMP
Summary of
RCMU’s WMP
Independent
Evaluator’s
Assessment
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(A): An
accounting of the responsibilities
of persons responsible for
executing the plan.

Section
III.A
The Rancho
Cucamonga City
Council is responsible
for executing RCMU’s
WMP.

RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(B): The
objectives of the wildfire
mitigation plan.

Section II
RCMU’s WMP provides
measures that
effectively reduce the
probability that
RCMU’s electric system
could be the origin or
contributing source for
the ignition of a
wildfire.

RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(C): A description
of the preventive strategies and
programs to be adopted by the
local publicly owned electric utility
or electrical cooperative to
Section
III.A

Even though RCMU’s
Service Area is not in
the High Fire Threat
Area, RCMU will
ensure that its design
RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

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Independent Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan June 7, 2023
7 Required Element of WMP Location
in WMP
Summary of
RCMU’s WMP
Independent
Evaluator’s
Assessment
minimize the risk of its electrical
lines and equipment causing
catastrophic wildfires, including
consideration of dynamic climate
change risks.
and construction
standards and
inspections meets all
requirements.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(D): A
description of the metrics the
local publicly owned electric utility
or electrical cooperative plans to
use to evaluate the wildfire
mitigation plan’s performance and
the assumptions that underlie the
use of those metrics.

Section
VIII.A
Metric 1: Fire Ignitions

Metric 2: Above-
Ground Utility-Owned
Distribution System
Components
RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(E): A discussion
of how the application of
previously identified metrics to
previous wildfire mitigation plan
performances has informed the
wildfire mitigation plan.

Section
VIII.B
Metric data will be
collected as necessary.

RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(F): Protocols for
disabling reclosers and
deenergizing portions of the
electrical distribution system that
consider the associated impacts
on public safety, as well as
protocols related to mitigating the
public safety impacts of those
protocols, including impacts on
critical first responders and on
health and communication
infrastructure.

Section V.G

Protocols have been
placed in the WMP.

RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(G): Appropriate
and feasible procedures for
notifying a customer who may be
impacted by the deenergizing of
electrical lines. The procedures
shall consider the need to notify,
as a priority, critical first
responders, health care facilities,
and operators of
telecommunications
infrastructure.

Section VI
Protocols and
procedures have been
placed in the WMP.

RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

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Independent Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan June 7, 2023
8 Required Element of WMP Location
in WMP
Summary of
RCMU’s WMP
Independent
Evaluator’s
Assessment
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(H): Plans for
vegetation management. Section V.D

N/A: This section is not
applicable to RCMU.

This element is Not
Applicable to RCMU;
therefore, it was not
included in RCMU’s WMP.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(I): Plans for
inspections of the local publicly
owned electric utility’s or
electrical cooperative’s electrical
infrastructure.

Section V.E
Section
VIII.A
Section
VIII.B

RCMU meets or
exceeds the minimum
inspection
requirements provided
in the CPUC’s GO 165
RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(J): A list that
identifies, describes, and
prioritizes all wildfire risks, and
drivers for those risks, throughout
the local publicly owned electric
utility’s or electrical cooperative’s
service territory. The list shall
include, but not be limited to,
both of the following:
(i) Risks and risk drivers associated
with design, construction,
operation, and maintenance of
the local publicly owned electric
utility’s or electrical cooperative’s
equipment and facilities.
(ii) Particular risks and risk drivers
associated with topographic and
climatological risk factors
throughout the different parts of
the local publicly owned electric
utility’s or electrical cooperative’s
service territory.

Section V.C

The primary risk drivers
for wildfire in RCMU’s
Service Area are the
following:
• High
Temperature;
• Low Humidity;
• Hillside
Terrain;
• Fire Weather
Conditions;
• Prolonged
Drought;
• Climate
Change;
• Fire History

RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(K): Identification
of any geographic area in the local
publicly owned electric utility’s or
electrical cooperative’s service
territory that is a higher wildfire
threat than is identified in a
commission fire threat map, and
identification of where the
commission should expand a high
fire threat district based on new
Section V.A

RCMU’s service area is
not located in a high
fire threat district.

However, the City’s
Wildland Urban
Interface Fire Area
Map and the CPUC’s
Fire-Threat Map is
included as reference.

RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

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Independent Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan June 7, 2023
9 Required Element of WMP Location
in WMP
Summary of
RCMU’s WMP
Independent
Evaluator’s
Assessment
information or changes to the
environment.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(L): A
methodology for identifying and
presenting enterprisewide safety
risk and wildfire-related risk.

Section
IV.B

This is identified in the
WMP.

RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(M): A statement
of how the local publicly owned
electric utility or electrical
cooperative will restore service
after a wildfire.

Section VII
This is identified in the
WMP.

RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

PUC § 8387(b)(2)(N): A
description of the processes and
procedures the local publicly
owned electric utility or electrical
cooperative shall use to do all of
the following:
(i) Monitor and audit the
implementation of the wildfire
mitigation plan.
(ii) Identify any deficiencies in the
wildfire mitigation plan or its
implementation and correct those
deficiencies.
(iii) Monitor and audit the
effectiveness of electrical line and
equipment inspections, including
inspections performed by
contractors, that are carried out
under the plan, other applicable
statutes, or commission rules.

Section
VIII.C

This is identified in the
WMP.

RCMU’s WMP meets this
requirement.

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Independent Evaluation of RCMU’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan June 7, 2023
10 V. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
The Fire District concludes that RCMU’s WMP comprehensively addresses all the applicable statutorily required elements for the Publicly Owned Utilities’ WMP as specified in California Public Utilities Code section 8387. The Fire District further finds that RCMU has taken reasonable actions to minimize the risk that its lines or equipment will cause a wildfire.

Page 795 ends

Rancho Cucamonga City CouncilJune 7, 2023

Rancho Cucamonga City Council
June 7, 2023