CITY COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Department(s):
City Manager’s Office
of Emergency
Management
CEQA:
Not a Project, File No.
PP17-003,
Agreements/Contracts
(New or Amended)
resulting in no physical
changes to the
environment.
Coordination:
PBCE, Housing, CAO,
CMO-Budget
Dept. Approval:
/s/
Raymond Riordan
Council District(s):
Citywide
CMO Approval:
3/17/22
SUBJECT: CITY ROADMAP – SOFT-STORY BUILDING EARTHQUAKE RETROFIT POLICY:
ACTIONS RELATED TO THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAZARD
MITIGATION GRANT FUNDS FOR THE SOFT STORY SEISMIC RETROFIT
PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to accept Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Program grant funds, administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) in the amount of $1,443,040 to support the City’s Soft Story Seismic Retrofit Program and to negotiate and execute any documents necessary to accept these grant funds.
BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION:
On June 19, 2018, City Council approved the Housing Department’s request to apply for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Program Grant, as administered by Cal OES. In a letter addressed to the City Manager on October 19, 2021, Cal OES sent notification of the City’s sub- application approval of funds for a Seismic Retrofit Program.
Retrofitting multifamily housing is critical to protecting vulnerable tenants and to preserving much needed affordable housing from irreparable damage in a major earthquake. Recent flooding and fires have painfully demonstrated how difficult it is to quickly rehouse low-income households in apartments that are safe and affordable. The grant funds will be used to develop a policy framework for a multifamily soft story seismic mitigation ordinance, develop a seismic retrofit program, the means of implementation, and identify and locate parcels. The grant will be jointly administered by the Office of Emergency Management, Housing, and Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department representatives.
As noted in the Statement of Work, the City will develop and design a seismic retrofit program, the means of implementation, and identify and locate parcels. Phase I will consist of program development/management, community outreach, Engineering Evaluation Report, engineering/design plans, plan check, Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) review, Engineering Design Grant Application, and selection of projects and submittal to FEMA. Additionally, Phase I program development will include the development of the EHP review process. The City, in consultation with FEMA, will develop an approval process for Section 106 historical review.
The work schedule included with the project application indicates that Phase I will take 18 months to complete; therefore, the Phase I completion date is February 20, 2023. Phase II will commence upon programmatic review and EHP approval. Phase II will include implementation of retrofit activities and may not commence until written approval has been received.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 03/29/2022
FILE: 22-393
ITEM: 2.7
Climate Smart San José: The recommendation in this memorandum has no effect on Climate Smart San José energy, water, or mobility goals.
Commission Recommendation/Input: No Commission recommendation or input is associated with this action.
COST AND FUNDING SOURCE:
No additional cost increase is being recommended with this memorandum. The grant award provides a 75% federal share and requires a 25% non-federal share provided by the City. The 2021-2022 Mid-Year Budget Report action approved by Council on February 8, 2022 established a City-Wide Expense Appropriation in the amount of $1.4 million and increased the estimated revenue from the federal government by $1,050,000.
As this grant is on a reimbursement basis, requiring a 25% City match, subsequent budget actions will be recommended to recognize and appropriate the remaining grant revenue and City match as part of a future budget process.
FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT: Raymond Riordan, Director of Office of Emergency Management (408)- 794-7050
Attachments: Notification of Subapplication Approval from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services dated October 19, 2021