City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MARCH 25, 2025 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN ANNEX FROM THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN ISSUE:
The issue for City Council consideration is the adoption of the City of Riverside Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex from the Riverside County Operational Area Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the acceptance of the City of Riverside Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex from the Riverside County Operational Area Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
BACKGROUND:
Hazard mitigation planning is a process used by government agencies to understand risks from natural hazards and develop long-term strategies to reduce the impacts of disasters on people, property, and the environment. The Riverside County Operational Area Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and the City of Riverside Annex identifies potential hazards, reviews and assesses past disaster occurrences, estimates the probability of future occurrences, and sets mitigation goals to help reduce or eliminate long-term risk. Under the Disaster Mitigation and Cost Recovery Reduction Act of 2000, the City of Riverside is required to be covered by an LHMP to be eligible for certain Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster-related and mitigation funds. The City Council adopted a Resolution authorizing the previous City of Riverside LHMP Annex on February 5, 2019.
DISCUSSION:
The Riverside County Emergency Management Department maintains a Multi-Jurisdictional LHMP that includes the City of Riverside. In June 2022, the City of Riverside Fire Department’s Office of Emergency Management submitted a Letter of Commitment to join the Riverside County Multi-Jurisdictional LHMP planning process and subsequently prepared an Annex to the plan to address unique emergency planning considerations for the City. FEMA and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) have reviewed the Riverside County Multi-Jurisdictional LHMP and the City of Riverside LHMP Annex and determined that the plan is eligible for final approval pending adoption by the City of Riverside.
Major changes to the LHMP included updating the hazard identification and risk assessment, updates to capabilities, and the addition of potential mitigation actions.
After adoption and final approval from FEMA, minor edits to this annex may occur until the next full update of the LHMP occurs in 2028.
Concurrence of the following departments has been achieved:
City Manager’s Office
City Attorney’s Office
City Clerk’s Office
Community and Economic Development
Finance Department
General Services
Housing and Homeless Solutions
Innovative Technology
Library
Marketing and Communications
Museum
Park, Recreation, and Community Services
Police Department
Public Utilities
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal 2.4 – support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
Community Trust – The development and subsequent adoption of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan will guide mitigation projects while incorporating community input.
Equity – The Office of Emergency Management provides public safety to all residents, visitors and those that conduct business in the City of Riverside. By adopting the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex OEM has an equitable mitigation framework.
Fiscal Responsibility – The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex provides for the ability to seek mitigation grant dollars to improve resilience of city infrastructure to protect residents and community investments.
Innovation – The adoption of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex provides a roadmap to mitigate against the impacts from disasters.
Sustainability & Resiliency – To meet the community’s current needs and ensure the City and Office of Emergency Management are prepared for the ever-demanding increase in natural hazards tied to climate change, the proposed adoption and utilization of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex along with the Emergency Operation Plan represents the city’s proactive stance toward disaster prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report and plan. The LHMP will allow departments to seek mitigation grants for projects in the future both pre-disaster and post-disaster.
Prepared by: Mark D. Annas, Emergency Services Administrator Approved by: Steve McKinster, Fire Chief
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Edward Enriquez. Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer Approved as to form: Jack Liu, Interim City Attorney
Attachments:
Resolution
City of Riverside Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex
LHMP Presentation
City of Riverside LHMP Annex ● Page 2