Planning Commission
Memorandum
Community & Economic Development Department Planning Division 3900 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92522 | Phone: (951) 826-5371 | RiversideCA.gov
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION August 13, 2026
PAGE 1 PC-2026-00796
PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING DATE : AUGUST 13 , 2026
AGENDA ITEM NO: #
SUMMARY
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Planning Commission:
1. Recommend that the City Council determine that Planning Case PC-2026-00796 (General Plan Text Amendment) is exempt from further California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule), as it can be seen with certainty that approval of the project will not have an effect on the environment; and
2. Recommend Approval of Planning Case PC-2026-00796 (General Plan Text Amendment) as outlined in the staff report.
BACKGROUND
Assembly Bill (AB) 2140 (2006) (Exhibit 2) allows local jurisdictions to qualify for additional state funding on eligible public assistance projects (FEMA-led projects to repair public infrastructure after disasters). Typically, federal funding covers approximately 75 percent of the cost of these projects while municipalities cover the remaining 25 percent (Figure 1).
Case Number PC-2026-00796 (General Plan Amendment)
Request
Proposal by the City of Riverside to consider an amendment to the Public Safety Element of the City’s 2025 General Plan. This amendment would update a reference to the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) in compliance with Assembly Bill (AB) 2140.
Applicant City of Riverside, Community and Economic Development Department Project Location Citywide
Ward Citywide
Staff Planner
Clarissa Manges, Assistant Planner
951-826-5264
[email protected]
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION August 13, 2026
PAGE 2 PC-2026-00796
When the California legislature passes a bill allowing it , state funding can cover 18.75 percent of that local cost -share through the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) (Figure 2).
Municipalities would then cover the remaining 6.25 percent of the cost. If in compliance with AB 2140, however, they can receive state funding for the ir entire remaining cost- share (Figure 3).
75%
18.75%
6.25%
Federal Funding State Funding
Local Funding
Figure 2: Funding of Public Assistance Projects – With CDAA State Funding (but without AB 2140 Additional Assistance) 75%
25%
Federal Funding State Funding
Figure 3: Funding of Public Assistance Projects – With CDAA Funds and with AB 2140 Additional Assistance 75%
25%
Federal Funding Local Funding
Figure 1: Funding of Public Assistance Projects – Without California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) State Funding CITY PLANNING COMMISSION August 13, 2026
PAGE 3 PC-2026-00796
By covering that funding gap, AB 2140 can greatly help municipalities with disaster recovery.
Municipalities can comply with and become eligible for AB 2140’s financial assistance by adopting their federally mandated local hazard mitigation plan s (LHMPs), which are annexes to their counties’ hazard mitigation plans that outline their disaster preparedness measures, into the public safety elements of their general plans via resolutions. They must also re -adopt their LHMPs when their LHMPs are revised or expir e after their five-year lifespans. Municipalities have the flexibility to adopt their LHMP s into the public safety elements of their general plans at the same time or later than their city councils’ initial adoptions of their LHMPs, as well as the flexibility to embed their LHMPs into their public safety element s as hyperlinks, appendi ces, or attachment s. Within the element text, municipalities must clearly state that they comply with AB 2140.
The City of Riverside has maintained compliance with AB 2140 through an embedded hyperlink to its 2018 LHMP in its 2025 General Plan Public Safety Element. The 2018 LHMP, however, was superseded by the current 2023 LHMP (Exhibit 3) through Resolution 24246, adopted March 25, 2025 (Exhibit 4). To continue compliance with AB 2140, the 2023 LHMP must be adopted into the Public Safety Element.
PROPOSAL
The proposed amendment will adopt the 2023 LHMP into the Public Safety Element by replacing the 2018 LHMP hyperlink with the 2023 LHMP hyperlink (Exhibit 1). The text of the Public Safety Element regarding the LHMP, which includes the new hyperlink and existing language stating compliance with AB 2140 (not changing), will be the following (the new hyperlink is emphasized in blue):
The Multi -Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for the City of Riverside planning area was developed in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) and followed FEMA’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan guidance. The LHMP incorporates a process where hazards are identified and profiled, the people and facilities at risk are analyzed, and mitigation actions are developed to reduce or eliminate hazard risk. The implementation of these mitigation actions, which include both short and long-term strategies, involve planning, policy changes, programs, projects, and other activities. Consistent with AB 2140 (General Plans: Safety Element) requirements, the link to the City’s LHMP page is provided here: https://riversideca.gov/fire/divisions/office- emergency-management/lhmp (direct file link is here:
https://riversideca.gov/fire/sites/riversideca.gov.fire/files/Riverside%202023%20LHMP%2 0Final%20-%20FEMA%20Approved.pdf.
Following City Council approval of this amendment, Staff will submit the revised Public Safety Element and signed amendment resolution to the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for final review and approval of AB 2140 compliance.
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION August 13, 2026
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed amendment is exempt from additional California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA guidelines, as it can be seen with certainty that the proposed amendment will not have an effect on the environment.
APPEAL INFORMATION
Actions by the City Planning Commission, including any environmental finding, may be appealed to the City Council within ten calendar days after the decision. Appeal filing and processing information may be obtained from the Planning Division Public Information Section, 3rd Floor, City Hall.
EXHIBITS LIST
1. 2025 General Plan Public Safety Element Amendment
2. Assembly Bill (AB) 2140 Factsheet
3. 2023 City of Riverside Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)
4. Resolution 24246
5. Presentation
Prepared by: Clarissa Manges, Assistant Planner
Reviewed by: Veronica Hernandez, Senior Planner
Approved by: Laurel Reimer, City Planner