San Luis Obispo City Council
January 17, 2023

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Baseline Conditions Report City of San Luis Obispo
B-5
Household Income was re-structured into the following three groups:
 Less than $50,000
 $50,000 - $100,000
 $100,000 +
Race/Ethnicity was re-structured into the following two groups:
 White or Caucasian
 All other Races/Ethnicities

1.6.2 Open-Ended Questions
The survey contained six open-ended questions. Open-ended responses were categorized by topic area and analyzed for emerging themes. A word cloud has also been created to highlight key categories. The full text of responses will be available in the Appendix.

1.7 RESULTS

1.7.1 Overview
The English version of the survey was initiated on August 31st and closed on October 11th. The English version of the survey had 413 visitors and 331 responses. However, because of duplicate responses, only 328 responses were included in the analysis. Engagement with the survey generated over 16 hours of public comment. 290 of the respondents indicated that they lived or worked in a City zip code, while 41 responses came from a zip code outside of City limits. All responses, both in-City and out of City zip codes were analyzed. The Spanish Version of the survey, published two weeks after the English survey, had no respondents. The phone-in option was not utilized either.

1.7.2 Demographics
Respondents were asked to answer basic demographic information including age, housing status, income and ethnicity. These questions were asked to assess how well the survey respondents reflected the actual community make-up of San Luis Obispo. Respondents were asked to identify what 10-year age block they belonged to. The highest percentage of respondents were 18-24 (26%), followed by 25-34 (16%), 35-44 (17%), above 65 (15%), 45-54 (13%), and 55-64 (13%).

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City of San Luis Obispo Baseline Conditions Report
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Half of respondents were homeowners (50%), 44% were renters, and 6% selected “other”.

The most common household income selected by respondents was $100,000-149,000 (58), followed by 200,000 or more (33). In contrast, 30 respondents selected the lowest income bracket (less than 10,000), and 14 selected the second lowest income bracket: $10,000-14,999.

Respondents most commonly described themselves as White or Caucasian (234), followed by Asian (32), Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin (29), Black or African American (9), American Indian or Alaskan Native (8), and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (2). It is worth noting that 42 respondents chose “prefer not to say” when describing their racial identity.

As a reference point, Demographic results from the survey were compared with the 2018 American Community Survey to determine if the survey respondents over or under represented the demographics of SLO residents. Details on representation are noted below.

Demographic 2018 American Community
Survey (%)
Community Priority Survey
Results (#, %) Over or Under Represented?
Housing Situation
Homeowner 68% 164, 49.5% Under
Renter 35% 146, 44% Over
Age
Under 18 13.1% 0, 0% Under

Ascent Environmental
Baseline Conditions Report City of San Luis Obispo
B-7
Demographic 2018 American Community
Survey (%)
Community Priority Survey
Results (#, %) Over or Under Represented?
18 - 24 34.9% 80, 25% Under
25 - 34 13.6% 51, 16% Over
35 - 44 8.3% 53, 16% Over
45 - 54 8.7% 42, 13% Over
55 - 64 8.9% 40, 12% Over
Above 65 12.5% 46, 14% Over
Ethnicity/Race
American Indian or Alaskan Native .3% 8, 2% Over
Asian 5.6% 31, 9% Over
Black or African American 2.0% 5, 2% Equal
Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin 18.3% 23, 7% Under
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander .1% 2, 1% Over
White or Caucasian 70.7% 237, 72% Over
Other .2% 3, 1% Over
Household Income
Less than $10,000 11.6% 30, 9% Under
$10,000 - $14,999 7.3% 15, 5% Under
$15,000 - $24,999 11.2% 9, 3% Under
$25,000 - $34,999 6.3% 15, 5% Under
$35,000 - $49,999 11.2% 17, 5% Under
$50,000 - $74,999 15.2% 30, 9% Under
$75,000 - $99,999 10.8% 29, 9% Under
$100,000 - $149,999 12.8% 59, 18% Over
$150,000 - $199,999 5.8% 32, 10% Over
$200,000 or more 7.8% 33, 10% Over
Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin were the most underrepresented when compared to the 2018 American Community Survey. The survey respondents were also younger than the 2018 American Community Survey results.

The two youngest age groups were underrepresented, especially those under 18 whom were not represented at all.

All other age groups were slightly overrepresented. 12 respondents chose “prefer not to say” on this demographic question. Otherwise, all results were within 4 percentage points of the 2018 American Community Survey showing a successful sample of SLO demographics.

The demographic question that most respondents declined to answer was about total household income with 57 choosing “prefer not to say.” The highest three income brackets were overrepresented while lower income brackets were underrepresented compared to the 2018 American Community Survey results. This could be correlated with the higher percentage of survey respondents in younger age groups, who tend to make less money than older Americans later in their careers.

All respondents had to choose an answer when asked about their housing situations. The options included “Homeowner, Renter, and Other.” Homeowners were under represented by respondents while renters were over represented. 19 chose “Other” to specify their housing situation. Some of them were students living at home or in student housing.

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City of San Luis Obispo Baseline Conditions Report
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1.7.3 Open-Ended Questions
Details for each open-ended question are provided below:
 Of the open-ended questions, Question 5, “If there are other community issues not listed above that you are concerned about, please provide them here,” had the most responses (153).  Question 16, “What climate change adaptation and community resilience topics are you interested in learning more about?” had the 2nd highest number of responses (105).  Question 14 garnered the third most responses (95), and asked “Do you have suggestions for how the City of San Luis Obispo can improve response efforts (to hazards)?”  Question 13 had the 4th most respondents (83) and “Do you have any comments to share regarding how you were affected by past hazards and/or city response efforts?”  Question 7, “If there are other climate change impacts not listed above that you are concerned about, please provide them here,” had 77 responses.
 Questions 9 and 11 had the lowest number of respondents (54) and (37) respectively. Question 9 asked for additional areas impacted by climate change of concern. Finally, question 11 asked for additional hazards that respondents have been personally affected by over the past 1-3 years.  Responses to key open-ended questions are discussed in detail in the results below.  There were 604 total responses to open-ended questions.

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Baseline Conditions Report City of San Luis Obispo
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1.7.4 Core Questions
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ISSUES ARE YOU CURRENTLY CONCERNED ABOUT? Overall Results
Respondents were most concerned about issues that are affecting their day-to-day life in 2020. As noted on the Figure above, this includes COVID-19, Air Pollution, Job Security, Social Equity and Affordable Housing. The strong concern for COVID-19 is not surprising; during the time period the survey was open, COVID-19 still had California counties in various stages of quarantine/lockdown. Additionally, the already competitive housing market in the state went through changes as some cities saw rents shift unpredictably. Furthermore, the summer saw high periods of social unrest as cases of police brutality and racial injustice were brought to the national spotlight. Beginning in August, wildfires broke out across the state following dry conditions, lighting, high-winds, and extreme heat. 2020 has also seen the largest wildfire in California’s history, and the multiple fires occurring caused poor air quality for wide swaths of the state including the central coast.

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City of San Luis Obispo Baseline Conditions Report
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Variation by Housing Situation
As noted in the graph above ], renters and homeowners shared a similar amount (+/- 1 - 4%) of concern for a variety of key issues - Water Pollution, Tree Health, COVID-19, Healthy Food, Earthquakes, and Air Pollution. The three areas of greatest misalignment were Affordable Housing (68% v. 36%); Social Equity and Justice (63% v. 44%); and Transportation Affordability and Accessibility (40% v. 28%). The variation in Affordable Housing is understandable given the status of the respondents as “renters”’; homeowners are likely to be less concerned about housing affordability due to already owning a home. The variation in Social Equity and Justice is unclear, but could be connected to the age of the respondents (i.e. a correlation between age and homeowner status) or another unifying variable. The same could be said for Transportation Affordability and Accessibility with the added caveat for income.

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Baseline Conditions Report City of San Luis Obispo
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Overall, the top three concerns for homeowners are COVID-19 (62%), Water Pollution/Stream Health (48%), and Air Pollution (47%). The top three concerns for renters are Affordable Housing (68%), COVID-19 (65%) and Social Equity and Justice (63%).

Variation by Race/Ethnicity
Level of climate concern between different racial and ethnic groups (in this case, Caucasian v. All other Races/Ethnicities) was fairly uniform on most key issues. The largest divergence occurred for Job Security and Economic Vitality (39% v. 53%); Air Pollution (55% v. 48%); and Transportation Affordability and Accessibility (36% v. 43%). Overall, the top three concerns for White or Caucasian respondents are COVID-19 (66%), Social Equity and Justice (61%) and Affordable Housing (56%). For participants identifying as one or more other races, their top three concerns are identical with some variation in level of concern (61%; 58%; 57% respectfully).

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City of San Luis Obispo Baseline Conditions Report
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Variation by Income Group
Responses by income group are noted in the figure above. There is great variability in the level of concern Individuals have for key climate and adaptation subjects. The one exception to this observation is a clear concern for COVID-19 across all income groups. Unsurprisingly, individuals within the lowest household income group (“Less than $50,000), expressed a much higher level of concern for Affordable Housing (68% v. 51%, 40% respectfully); Job Security and Economic Vitality (56% v. 41%, 38%); and Transportation Affordability and Accessibility (46% v. 29%, 27% respectfully).

Individuals within the other two income groups ($50,000 - $100,000 and $100,000 +) were more aligned in their levels of concern; the one main exception for this is concern for Water Pollution/ Stream Health (63% v. 42%).

Overall, individuals with a household income of less than $50,000 were most concerned about COVID-19 (71%); Affordable Housing (68%); and Social Equity and Justice (62%). Individuals with a household income between $50,000 - $100,000 were most concerned with Water Pollution/ Stream Health (63%); COVID-19 (61%); and Air Pollution (56%).

Individuals with a household income of $100,000 or more were most concerned with COVID-19 (61%); Social Equity and Justice (52%); and Air Pollution (48%).

Variation by Age

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Baseline Conditions Report City of San Luis Obispo
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When evaluated on the dimension of age, individuals expressed some similar concerns. COVID-19 continues to be a trend with the majority (50% +) of individuals expressing a high level of concern. More specifically, individuals above the age of 65 were most concerned with COVID-19 (76%); individuals between the ages of 45 and 54 were the least concerned with COVID-19 (55%).

Aside from COVID-19, other top concerns included Social Justice and Equity – a first or secondary concern for individuals within the following age groups: 18 - 24; 35 - 44; and 45 - 54. Individuals between the ages of 25 and 34 are also concerned about Social Justice and Equity (56%), but their paramount concern is Affordable Housing (75%).

Individuals above the age of 65, on the other hand, are the least concerned about Social Equity and Justice (37%); after COVID-19, they are most concerned about Air Pollution (61%).

Open-Ended Responses
Question: If there are other community issues not listed above that you are concerned about, please provide them here.

Respondents were also able to write in other concerns that were not addressed above. 153 respondents wrote in a concern. The most repeated write-in concern involved homelessness. Selected responses include:
 “Homelessness and the lack of focus our city official have on dealing with the issue.”  “How is the community taking care of the House-less population?  What are the options for those that do not have homes during the pandemic and unhealthy air conditions due to natural disasters (I.e. fires)”
 “The growing number of homeless in our downtown open spaces and doorways. Downtown is the heart of SLO and central to its vibrancy.”
 “Homelessness is impacting the waterways & Spot fires. Hard facts to face but true.”  “providing services from homeless and mentally ill persons in the county” Concerns that were repeated by multiple respondents include issues of police brutality and police funding. Select responses:
 “Systemic racism and our bloated county Sheriff’s budget,”  “Racism, police brutality, republican takeover using big money for our local candidates which will diminish the focus on environmental and justice concerns,”
 “Addressing and defunding workplaces and laws that uphold systemic racism. Defund the police in order to allocate funds towards issues like the ones listed above.”  “Overfunding on police--defunding is necessary.”
 “I live by Santa Rosa Park and the homeless population is very disrespectful of our property. The creek that runs through our backyard is littered with their trash and they are constantly stealing things out of our yard. The police are not helpful with the issue whatsoever. The police are an entirely useless organization and are especially terrible here in SLO.”
 “Police Department suppressing free speech rights by tear gassing people, over-charging protest organizer, failure to files charges against individuals who drove cars into pedestrians.” Other concerns that were repeated multiple times include cycling and transportation issues.

Selected responses:
 “Walkability”
 “Stop wasting money on changing roads to accommodate bike lanes. Instead (sic) focus on adding busses and repairing our streets. Do not take away our street parking to make a bike lane.  “Infrastructure and road building”

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City of San Luis Obispo Baseline Conditions Report
B-14
The graphic (shown below) is a word cloud generated from responses the open-end question. As the Word Cloud illustrates, housing and homelessness were two salient topics for respondents.

Which of the following climate change impacts are you concerned about? Overall Results
Respondents were very concerned about most of these climate impacts. Only Flooding and Storm Damage saw more respondents choosing “Not at all” or “Somewhat”. Wildfires and Wildfire Smoke had the most concern, likely related to the volatile 2020 wildfire season in California that brought that state’s largest wildfire to date and many days of unhealthy air quality.

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Baseline Conditions Report City of San Luis Obispo
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Variation by Income Group
When evaluated by income group, all groups, regardless of income, expressed strong concern about Wildfires (80%, 81%, 80% respectfully); however, it is interesting to note that individuals in the lowest income group are more concerned with Wildfire Smoke than Wildfires as a climate category (80% v. 84%). Individuals within the lowest income group are also most concerned about Hotter Temperatures and Heat Waves (78%) and are significantly more concerned about Sea Level Rise than individuals in other income categories. In comparison, individuals within the highest income group are most concerned about Drought and Decreased Water Supply (76%); their tertiary concern is Wildfire Smoke. Individuals within the middle-income group share similar concerns with some variation in percentage (71% for both).

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City of San Luis Obispo Baseline Conditions Report
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Variation by Age Group
When evaluating climate concern by age, a few patterns emerge. Across the board, individuals are most concerned about Wildfires. Within that category, individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 are most concerned (88%), followed by individuals between the ages of 25 and 34 (86%). There is greater variation when evaluating individual’s secondary concerns. Wildfire smoke is the second highest concern for individuals between the ages of 18 – 24 and 25 – 34. For all other age groups, their second highest concern is Drought and Decreased Water Supply. The greatest variance in concern among age groups is with Sea Level Rise. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 have the highest level of concern (65%), with individuals above the age of 65 expressing the least amount of concern (17%).

Variation by Race/Ethnicity
Climate concerns between different racial and ethnic groups (in this case, Caucasian v. All other Races/Ethnicities) was fairly uniform on a majority of issues (+/- 6%) – Drought and Decreased Water Supply (78% v. 75% respectfully); Hotter Temperatures and Heat Waves (75% v. 73%); Wildfires (84% v. 79%); and Wildfire Smoke (79% v. 73%). The largest divergences occurred for Flooding and Storm Damage (24% v. 36%) and Sea Level Rise (37% v. 49%).

Regardless of racial or ethnic identify, all individuals noted the same top concern: Wildfires. Secondary and tertiary concern varied slightly – Wildfire Smoke (79%) and Drought and Decreased Water Supply (78%); vs. Drought and Decreased Water Supply (75%), Hotter Temperatures and Heat Waves (73%), and Wildfire Smoke (73%).

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Baseline Conditions Report City of San Luis Obispo
B-17
Variation by Housing Situation
Climate concerns among individuals in different housing situations varied slightly. The top concern for Homeowners and Renters is Wildfire (72% v. 85% respectfully). Secondary concern for these two groups deviated; renters are more concerned about Wildfire Smoke (84%); homeowners are more concerned about Drought and Decreased Water Supply (68%). Individuals identifying their housing situation as “Other” had four competing interests at 79% - Drought and Decreased Water Supply, Hotter Temperatures and Heat Waves, Wildfires, and Wildfire Smoke. The greatest divergence on level of concern occurred between Homeowners and Renters on the issue of Sea Level Rise: 51% of renters expressed concern versus only 22% of homeowners.

Open-Ended Responses
Question: If there are other climate change impacts not listed above that you are concerned about, please provide them here.

There were 77 responses to this question. Answers were categorized by topic area. The four most prevalent themes discussed by respondents were:
1) Biodiversity and Health of Inland and Marine Ecosystems 2) impacts to Agriculture & Food Systems
3) Water Supply
4) Social Inequality.

Biodiversity and impacts to wildlife and their habitats were key concerns for respondents. Concerns were raised about both inland and marine ecosystems. Key concerns for marine ecosystems included plastic pollution and ocean acidification. Respondents were also concerned with the impacts of climatic changes on agriculture and how agricultural changes might impact food supply and access. Water supply was also frequently mentioned. Over half of comments related to water discussed over-building and the impacts of new development on water supply.

Comments also mentioned modified agricultural practices, water conservation, use of non-potable water and desalinization as potential solutions. Social inequality was another key issue. Comments in this category mentioned social justice, systemic and environmental racism, environmental justice, issues of representation, impacts to low income communities, and wealth inequality.

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City of San Luis Obispo Baseline Conditions Report
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Subject Area Issue Frequency of
Mentions
Environmental impacts
Biodiversity and Health of Inland and Marine Ecosystems 22 Pests and Diseases 4
Negative Environmental Impact of Development 2
Water Water Supply 8
Agriculture Agriculture & Food Systems 11
Human Systems
Social Inequality 7
Economy 4
Public Health 3
Energy & Infrastructure Energy 4
Transportation 4
Natural Disasters
Extreme Weather 5
Mudslides/Mudflows 3
Wildfire or forest management 3
Temperature 2
Other Climate Change is not occurring or should not be addressed by City 6 Responses to the open-ended question were also used to generate a Word Cloud (shown below). The Word Cloud illustrates the prevalence of words such as water, agriculture, environment, native, wildfire, food, etc. The frequency of these themes indicates that topics related to environment, water and agriculture are common concerns for respondents.

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HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU THAT CLIMATE CHANGE WILL IMPACT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS?
Overall Results
Respondents chose “Very Concerned” with less frequency for this question than previous questions. There is high concern about Utility Disruptions and Power Outages which aligns with the context of this survey’s timing. Summer 2020 brought extreme heatwaves in the state and the California Independent System Operator issued multiple “flex warnings” statewide to conserve energy and blackouts occurred as demand for electricity to combat extreme heat increased. Customers in Northern San Luis Obispo county experienced outages in August 2020. Additionally, Pacific Gas & Electric has also participated in Public Safety Power Shutoffs as a wildfire prevention tool that also created utility disruptions. High concern around Employment and Job Security and Evacuations also fits trends seen in earlier questions and align with later concerns about Wildfires and Wildfire Smoke.

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City of San Luis Obispo Baseline Conditions Report
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Variation by Income Group
As noted on the graph above, regardless of income, all individuals expressed the highest level of concern for Public Health and Safety (70%, 64%, 60% respectfully). Secondary concern varied slightly. After Public Health and Safety, individuals with household incomes of less than $50,000 or more than $100,000 were most concerned with Utility Disruptions and Power Outages. In comparison, individuals in the middle-income group ($50,000 - $100,000) had a secondary concern of Evacuations. The greatest divergence in level of concern occurred between individuals with a household income of less than $50,000 and more than $100,000 on the issue of Transportation Disruptions.

Individuals within the lower income group had the highest level of concern among the three groups for this category - 42%. On the other end of the spectrum, the opposite was true: individuals within the highest income group had the lowest amount of concern – 14%.

Variation by Age Group
When viewing concern for climate change impacts by age, a few patterns emerge. Across the board, individuals are most concerned about climate’s potential impact on Public Health and Safety. Within that category, individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 are most concerned (75%), followed by individuals between the ages of 25 and 34 (73%). Utility Disruptions and Power Outages are also a common concern among the age groups, with at least 50% of individuals in five age groups (all except individuals between the ages of 55 and 64) expressing concern.

Omitting Public Health and Safety, individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 are most concerned about climate’s potential impact on Evacuations (66%); and Utility Disruptions and Power Outages (61%). Individuals between the

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Baseline Conditions Report City of San Luis Obispo
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ages of 25 and 34 are also concerned about the same two categories with some variation in level of concern (57% and 69% respectfully). Individuals between the ages of 35 and 44 share a similar level of concern for Utility Disruptions and Power Outages (57%); they are also concerned about Access to Beaches and Open Space (42%).

Individuals between the ages of 45 and 54 are concerned about Utility Disruptions and Power Outages (50%), followed by Evacuations (29%). Individuals between the ages of 55 and 64 are also concerned about Utility Disruptions and Power Outages (48%), in addition to Evacuations (33%). Finally, individuals above the age of 65 are concerned about Utility Disruptions and Power Outages (50%) and Evacuations (37%).

Variation in Race/Ethnicity
Regardless of racial or ethnic identify, individuals expressed similar levels of concern for two potential climate change impacts: Public Health and Safety (69% v. 64%, respectfully) and Utility Disruptions and Power Outages (56% v. 67% respectfully). Tertiary concerns were also the same – Evacuations (49% for both). The greatest divergence between groups occurred for Transportation Disruptions; only 24% of White or Caucasian respondents expressed concern compared with 42% of respondents of respondents identifying as all other races and ethnicities.

Variation by Housing Situation

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When viewed through a housing situation lens, a few patterns emerge. Despite the variability, all respondents regardless of housing situation are concerned about Public Health and Safety, with individuals in the “Other” category reporting the highest level of concern at 79%. This same group expresses the same level of concern for Evacuations.

Both renters and homeowners also list Utility Disruptions and Power Outages as a secondary concern (50% and 67% respectfully). This is a tertiary concern for individuals in “Other” alongside Transportation Disruptions. In terms of priority, homeowners and renters share a similar view on their concern for Evacuations (37% v. 59% respectfully). Of all the questions so far, this answer elicited the highest level of variability in level of concern; the smallest variation among levels of concern is for Utility Disruptions and Power Outages at 4%.

Open-Ended Responses
Question: If there are other areas impacted by climate change not listed above that you are concerned about, please provide them here
Respondents were also able to write in other concerns that were not addressed above. 54 respondents wrote in a concern.
6 of the respondents brought up concerns over how marginalized communities would feel climate impacts first.

Selected responses:
 “I am concerned about how climate change will impact low income communities and communities of color first.”  “Health effects upon the poor and elderly, especially during the summer.”  “We need a community plan to support frail elders and people with chronic illness who are reliant on electricity, and cannot be without power. Example: people w/ lung disease, who use oxygen, electric beds, breathing assist machines. The rolling blackouts that are happening in CA (due to fire and maxing out of the power grid) are devastating for this portion of our community. We need an organized, local government plan to identify and support these folks.”
8 Respondents brought up concerns about biodiversity, natural resources, and wildlife. Selected responses:
 “Access to food and use of agricultural resources, impacts to marine life and fisheries (including for food)”  “Again, that we are not considering the impact on local wildlife” or preparing to create safe zones for animals (inland & marine)
 “Natural resource conservation is being impacted by the lack of regional consensus about conservation and habitat restoration goals as the climate changes. SLO has an opportunity to build on leadership and successes from within City government to emphasize natural resource conservation measures in a changing climate.”  “Loss of biodiversity, climate refugees, natural resources” 8 Respondents brought up concerns about agriculture and/or local food access:
 “Weather patterns, heat waves, and quality of air and water affecting the ability to grow food.”  “crop yield and tourism”
Remaining responses ranged from denying the city’s role in responding to climate change, concerns over utilities or utility shut offs, concerns over evacuations, from where evacuees can go to how to handle refugees coming to the SLO region. A few respondents brought up concern for “hope” in the future.

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Baseline Conditions Report City of San Luis Obispo
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Open-ended responses were used to generate a Word Cloud (shown below). The words shown were frequently used by respondents.

WHICH OF THESE HAZARDS HAVE YOU BEEN PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY IN THE LAST 1-3 YEARS IN THE CITY OF SLO?
Overall Results
This question has more respondents reporting they have not been personally affected by about half of these impacts in the last 1-3 years. The most significantly reported impacts were of Wildfire Smoke, Hotter Temperatures and Heat Waves, and Air Pollution which matches the trends in other questions and references the context of events in 2020 (i.e. wildfire and extreme events). Even when wildfires do not occur in the city boundaries, impacts of wildfire smoke and air pollution affect many residents somewhat or significantly which explains why “Wildfire” has less significant direct impact for respondents than “Air Pollution” and “Wildfire Smoke.’

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Variation by Age Group
In terms of Hazards, all age groups have been quite impacted by Wildfire Smoke and Hotter Temperatures and Heat Waves. Within these two categories, individuals between the ages of 25 and 34 were most impacted (61% and 57%, respectfully). Individuals above the age of 65 indicate the lowest level of impact for these two categories (46% and 37%, respectfully). Other impactful hazards include Wildfires - with individuals between the ages of 25 and 34 reporting the highest level of impact at 29%, followed by individuals between that ages of 35 and 44 at 26% - and Air Pollution – with individuals between 25-34 and 55-64 each expressing the highest impact – at 33%. Erosion, Extreme Rainfall, Flooding, and Tule Fog were very rarely listed as a high impact for individuals across the age groups.

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Variation by Race/Ethnicity
In terms of racial and/or ethnic identity, all groups expressed a high level of impact for Wildfire Smoke (59% and 53% respectfully) and for Hotter Temperatures and Heat Waves (52% for both). A tertiary concern was Air Pollution (34% and 29%). Similar to the other analyses for this question, respondents did not express high levels of impact for Erosion, Flooding, Extreme Rainfall or Tule Fog. The greatest divergence between groups occurred for Drought and Water Supply; Caucasian or White respondents reported a higher level of impact – at 18% - than individuals of other races/ethnicities – at 10%.

Variation by Income Group
From an income perspective, individuals within the lower income bracket were most impacted by Hotter Temperatures and Heat Waves (58%), followed by Wildfire Smoke (53%). Individuals in the other two categories expressed a similar level of impact for Hotter Temperatures and Heat Waves (46% and 44% respectfully), with a higher level of impact for Wildfire Smoke (63% and 50%). In fact, individuals in the middle-income group express the highest level of impact for Wildfire Smoke. Other shared impacts include Air Pollution (35%, 27%, and 29% respectfully) and Wildfires (24%, 25% and 17%).

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Variation by Housing Situation
Homeowners, renters, and individuals indicating “Other” report being most impacted by Wildfire Smoke (45%, 60%, and 58%, respectfully), followed by Hotter Temperatures and Heat Waves (41%, 55%, and 47%, respectfully). Aside from these two categories, renter and homeowners report being more impacted by Air Pollution than Wildfires (26% v. 36%; 15% v. 26%); individuals indicating “Other” report the opposite (26% v. 32%).

Open-Ended Responses
Question: If there are other hazards that you have been personally affected by in the past 1-3 years in the City that are not listed above, please provide them here.

There were 37 responses to this question. Of those responses, 10 discussed climate related hazards. The remaining 27 discussed other community issues not directly applicable to climate change. Related responses discussed the following:
 Mortality of trees that were weakened by drought. Tree caused damage to the home and increased cost of air conditioning due to loss of canopy.
 Extreme 116 degree heat
 Nearby wildfires and the impacts of smoke on an asthmatic  Experience with Lyme Disease
 Landslide from extreme rainfall
 Air pollution that lead to the development of asthma
 Dust
 Power outages
 Invasive species
 Loss of biodiversity affecting people psychologically and economically.

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Responses to question 11 were used to generate a Word Cloud (see below).

FOR EACH HAZARD THAT YOU WERE AFFECTED BY, PLEASE RANK YOUR LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH THE CITY’S RESPONSE.

Overall Results

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Open-Ended Responses
Question: Do you have any comments to share regarding how you were affected by past hazards and/or city response efforts? Please describe specific hazard, location, and response Write-in answers to this question demonstrate that respondents are either not clear on how much the city can do in responding to climate impacts, don’t believe the city can respond to impacts that they few as “natural” or at the state/federal scale or they do not know how the city responded and wish for more publicity about city response efforts. Because of these frequently cited opinions, multiple respondents indicated they used “Not at all satisfied” to indicate “not applicable” or they skipped responding at all. For these reasons, write-in responses are a more useful analysis than the absolute numbers. 83 respondents wrote in a short answer.

Select responses that express doubt or confusion about the city’s ability to respond:
 “Several of the above items are caused by nature and the city can’t do anything about them so they should not even have been included.”
 “I cannot see how the city could do anything about fires, floods, fog and rain. The city can and should focus on eliminating trash and waste in our local parks and waterways. That will have a huge impact on its citizens' outlook on our government taking care of the city.”
 “Let's act now to reduce the burnable debris around out (sic) homes and stream beds.”  “I don’t think the city can do anything to control or improve these items except for provide infrastructure that allows emergency responders to quickly and safely access the entire population. In that regard the city has actively made response times and access to core populations worse by converting roadways to bicycle paths and failing to add lanes to major thoroughfares. I think the city really needs to reassess its willingness to sacrifice human lives in the name of environmentalist ideals. When someone has a stroke every minute of delay in transport to the hospital costs that person brain function and treatment options. Additionally these alternative modes of transportation have no ability to help facilitate business growth or commerce, and as such provide no return on the funds the city invests in them.”
 “I really don't see how the City can "respond" to some of these. Air pollution from what? If wildfires, not much the City can do apart from abatement and building codes already in place. Auto pollution is minimal. And City Hall cannot dictate the weather.”

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 “I'm not aware of the City's response to any of the above listed items except to say the more growth, housing, etc. that occurs the more air pollution and lack of water supply will be factors in everyday life. As well as infrastructure that cannot support the housing growth all around the city.”  “I used "Not at all satisfied" to indicate more of "not applicable" Air pollution is being worked upon by the City, and awareness of the need for conservation of water was an ad campaign and a hotline, both appreciated. The effects of the others I cannot see the City's responsibility to. In my case only.”  “I only rated a few factors because many of these issues are not truly under local influence/control. The City has done a good job addressing our flood control system. More needs to be done about wildfire prevention but a significant challenge is the amount of overgrown vegetation on private property or land just outside the City's footprint.”
 “In general, I feel the city hasn't really acknowledged it's general resident experiences with climate change. Too much focus on bike lanes and ignoring the less glamorous/ youth-focused, and middle/upper class side of being impacted by climate change.”
 “I'm not sure how to respond to some of these questions where I do not have a direct experience, and as a result don't have a level of satisfaction to report. I believe the City leadership's push for climate action, sustainable transportation, affordable housing, and protection of open space are all in the right direction.”  “You should have had a "not applicable" column. There is little the City can do about hot temperatures or wildfire smoke drifting into the area. Drought and water supply is something the City can control. Constantly raising water rates while allowing hundreds of new homes it NOT the way to respond.”  “What is the city doing for any of these? If they are doing something, they sure aren't doing a good job publicizing what they are doing.”
Select responses that offer more concrete feedback:
 “Storm drain clearance especially on the north end of the city near Loomis Street is sometimes lacking and more frequent patrols by city personnel to this area would be appreciated.”  “Appreciate the notifications we get through Twitter and other platforms.”  “Address fire prevention like the Native Americans and how we used to. Prevent forest fires.”  “City could do more to reduce water use - encourage lawn reduction, including on City properties.”  “The city has used a wide brush to paint very high fire hazard and should be more specific/precise in classifying fire hazard. A city perimeter approach would be more effective and appropriate. Over-classifying can have dire effects on residents ability to obtain fire insurance. Just like keeping areas in flood zones that have been mitigated is a problem.”
 “The potential for water shortage is ignored when the city approved extensive new housing. Otherwise these developments would have been disapproved. The city says one thing but does another with respect to this topic.”  “While the firefighters have indeed been heroes in this scenario, the city need to undertake extreme conservation measures, plant more trees to increase air quality, install solar throughout the town, enforce xeriscaping and the like. I do appreciate the city/county air report.”
 “Stonewalling on the Lake Dredging project is unacceptable.”  “Keep beaches open for locals during heat waves.”
 ‘I actually was not aware of the City's response at all to any of these issues.”  “Last winter when highway 5 was closed due to snow. The freeways and highways were blocked for HOURS and HOURS because we only have one or two routes to use in Southern California and the Central Coast.”

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 “What is the city doing to capture and utilize the very little rain we get each year? How much of it are we losing to runoff in our ocean? What is the city doing to implement a carbon free grid by 2030? How can we take wisdom and advice from our local indigenous people to better understand working with the environment?”  “My property is located within a flood zone. Mitigations, such as creek debris clearance, have been successful (so far!). Though many residential neighborhoods back up to steep, somewhat denuded hills, there have not been any significant mudflows (so far!). There is an inadequate supply of N95 masks which are necessary when doing errands during periods of hazardous air quality.”
 “Allowing 75 foot buildings downtown adds to the heat zone of the downtown corridor”  “I'm glad a notice has been put out about the air pollution hazards. We need strong messaging from our leadership to help us through challenges.”
 “heat mitigation in low income housing is not being taken seriously.”  “I do not think, in a town where the majority do not have AC, we (the city) are ready for extreme heat.”  “It wasn't apparent to me that the homeless had options to shelter in a cool/clear air space”  “Hotter temperatures, but the city does not have shade structures in many areas.”  “Flooding. If we and our neighbors didn't go out and clean the storm drains when it rains hard, multiple yards would be underwater.”
 “Wildfires: Reverse 911 works really well but most of my friends didn't know about it so trying to get the word out better. The Reverse 911 message also needs to be more clear including identifying the threat.” Responses to this question were used to generate a word cloud (see below).

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HOW WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS IN THE CITY OF SLO? Respondents were asked to prioritize actions in the City of San Luis Obispo. Housing was most frequently listed as a number one priority; housing was chosen as the top priority 122 times or by 40% of respondents. Land Preservation, another priority topic, was selected as the number one priority 89 times or by 30% of respondents. Selected as the number one priority less frequently were Agricultural Land Preservation (selected 29 times or by 10% or respondents), Public Transportation (21 times or 7%), Trails (16 times or 5%), Parks (14 times or 5%), and Space for Business (9 times or 3%).

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WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TOPICS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT?
There were 104 responses to this question. The most common topical areas mentioned by respondents were transportation, energy, and the environment. Water, wildfire, housing and social issues were also prevalent topics, in addition to agriculture, temperature changes, development, and emergency management. Issues related to climate change mitigation, waste and pollution and the economy were also mentioned. Multiple comments indicated interest in any topic related to climate adaptation and resilience. There were also several comments that the City should not be pursuing this topic. The table below summarized the approximate number of mentions for each topical area and topics suggested by respondents.

Topical Area Topics Mentions
Transportation  Electric vehicles and charging
 Public transportation
 EV charging for apartment renters
 Active Transportation/bikeability/walkability
 Reducing emissions from transportation
 Traffic reduction
 Walkable neighborhoods with access to services
 Pro Con approach to transportation decisions
19 Energy  Solar, wind and renewable energy sources
 Solar for residential & existing homes
 Require rooftop solar
 Microgrids, batteries, & energy reliability
 Affordable energy
 Alternate technology such as trash to energy
 Preventing early close of Diablo Canyon
 Eradication of gas burning engines
15 Environmental
Protection
 Open Space/land preservation
 Wildlife conservation
 Air pollution
 Urban forestry and trees to for urban cooling and societal benefits  Ecosystem-based adaptation
 Saving beaches
 Natural landscaping
15 Water  Water conservation
 “Integrated water resource management (intersections of flood management, water supply, watershed/habitat/GW protection, and water quality protection).”  Drought and water supply
 Increasing infiltration
 Community outreach on water conservation
11 Wildfire  City wildfire mitigation efforts
 Fire prevention & planning
 Outreach to property owners at the wildland urban interface  Native land management practices and knowledge
10

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Topical Area Topics Mentions
 Fire safe building
 Wildfire smoke
 Prescribed burns
 Fire response
Housing  Balancing housing needs with land preservation  Affordable housing
 Tiny homes
 Housing for Cal Poly students
 Repurposing existing developed land for housing
 Off-grid housing
 How climate change will impact housing prices
9 Social Issues  How can the City encourage residents to contribute more?  Homelessness
 Mass migration into City
 How can the City avoid an increase in the wealth gap and unequal burden of climate change on marginalized communities?
 Social equity and justice
 Community outreach regarding personal actions such as water conservation, wildfire mitigation, carbon footprint reduction, etc.
 How can the government better understand community wants and needs?  Covid-19
9 Agriculture  Community gardens
 Healthy food access
 Local food
 Soil health
 Regenerative agriculture and permaculture
7 Temperature Changes  Extreme heat leading to AC installation and impacts on grid  AC for schools and senior centers
 Alternatives to AC
7 Development  How can we accommodate growth in a less dense format?  Environmentally friendly development/ how can growth contribute to resilience?  Encouraging businesses and government to be environmentally conscious  Analysis of environmentally damaging industries and promoting more sustainable industrial practices
 Resilient construction materials and landscaping
5 Emergency
Management
 Faster warning systems for natural disasters
 Planning for compound hazards
 Pandemic and epidemic planning
 Disaster preparedness and planning
 Neighborhood resilience
 Resilience
5 Climate Change Action  City efforts to plan for and combat climate change 4

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Topical Area Topics Mentions
 Transitioning to a fossil fuel free society
Waste & Pollution  Waste in parks and open spaces
 Recycling and composting programs
 Compost use in community gardens
 Noise and light pollution
3 Economy  Job security
 Diversifying employment from tourism
2 Responses to this were also used to generate a Word Cloud. As the Word Cloud highlights, water, transportation, energy, housing and land were among the frequently used words.

Appendix E Environmental Justice and Disadvantaged Communities The City is home to populations with sociodemographic characteristics that may have a higher vulnerability to climate impacts. These groups may be concentrated in key areas of the City and have the potential to overlap with key climate related hazards that place these populations at a disproportionate higher risk from climate impacts. In general, lowincome residents, communities of color, tribal nations, and immigrant communities have disproportionately experienced some of the greatest environmental burdens and related health problems throughout the history of the U.S. and in California.

These historic inequities are, in the majority of cases, not a coincidence but a result of inappropriate zoning and negligent land use planning, intersecting structural inequalities, failure to enforce proper zoning or conduct regular inspections, deed restrictions and other discriminatory housing and lending practices, limited political and economic power among certain demographics, the prioritization of business interests over public health, development patterns that tend to concentrate pollution and environmental hazards in certain communities, and the placement of economic and environmental benefits in areas outside of disadvantaged communities (California Environmental Justice Alliance 2017).

Based on the State’s definition of disadvantaged communities, no census tracts within the San Luis Obispo region are designated as disadvantaged communities. However, the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) has created a regional definition of disadvantaged communities to help distribute funds more equitably, and meet the state and federal environmental justice requirements. In the San Luis Obispo Region, disadvantaged communities are defined as disproportionately burdened areas that are economically distressed and/or historically underrepresented as a part of the local government process. The Disadvantaged Communities Assessment identifies 13 variables that address a wide range of socioeconomic and population-based factors to geographically define these disproportionately-burdened areas. The 13 variables are:

1. Racial Minority

2. Ethnic Minority

3. Disability Status

4. Household Income

5. Free or Reduced-Price Meals

6. Educational Attainment

7. Language Proficiency

8. Renter Affordability

9. Housing Ownership Affordability

10. Older Adults: Age 75 Years and Older

11. Youth: Age 15 Years and Under

12. Households with No Vehicle Available

13. Households with No Computing Device Available

SLOCOG completed analysis at the traffic analysis zone (TAZ) level using these variables and evaluated relative to state and county averages. Points were assigned accordingly for each variable, and a composite score was derived for each TAZ in the region. The top quintile (top 20 percent) of TAZs were considered meeting the regional definition of disadvantaged communities. Individuals or households that include one or more of these variables are considered more vulnerable to natural and manmade hazards as well as the local impacts of climate change.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SURVEY RESULTS
In preparation for development of the Community Safety and Resilience Element, an Environmental Justice Survey for community organizations was conducted to gather input on environmental topics from organizations that serve vulnerable and/or disadvantaged communities in the city. The survey gathered input on how the city can better support disadvantaged communities by reducing environmental pollution, identifying key community needs, and increasing the voice of marginalized groups in the City's decisionmaking process. Highlights from the survey are included below and have been integrated into the environmental justice goals, policies, in programs in this element. The full survey results can be found in Appendix D.

The survey was sent via email to 59 staff members at local organizations or agencies that work with disadvantaged communities or focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The survey received seven responses from community organizations that serve populations that live, work, and/or go to school in the city and in San Luis Obispo County.

Survey respondents noted the following types of environmental pollutants adversely impacting vulnerable populations:

1. Exhaust and traffic pollution from living in proximity to major roadways

2. Contaminated drinking water

3. Lead paint or pipes in housing

4. Pesticide pollution from agriculture

5. Living/working near environmental clean-up sites

6. Smoke from wildfires
Survey respondents included the following recommendations for how the City can help protect vulnerable populations from environmental pollutants, hazards and climate change impacts:

7. Host listening sessions inside of affected communities

8. Devote new human and material resources to investigate and remedy environmental injustices

9. Identify and appoint leadership from within the affected communities

10. Provide monetary or other basic needs support to farmworkers when their work is disrupted by unusual or dramatic climate events

11. Incorporate greater city plans to clean up pollutants and test for pollutants in soil and other locations

12. Provide access to resources, education, funding, and create platforms or events where community members may share their experiences and be intentionally listened to Community Resilience and Social Infrastructure
Adaptive capacity is defined as the ability of systems, institutions, humans, and other organisms to adjust to potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to respond to consequences (IPCC 2014). Alongside the steps the City and partner agencies have already taken to protect the City from existing climate-related hazards and increase its adaptive capacity, it is important to recognize the role community organizations and informal social networks can play in building adaptive capacity to the impacts of climate change.

Social cohesion, generally understood as the extent of connectedness and solidarity among groups in society or community, is one of the strongest indicators of resilience during disaster events as well as in post-disaster recovery efforts (Townshend et al. 2015). Social cohesion can play an important role in helping protect residents, particularly vulnerable populations, during climate-related disasters.

Important indicators of social cohesion identified in this research include:

1. Belonging versus isolation, which means shared values, identity, feelings of commitment;

2. Inclusion versus exclusion, which concerns equal opportunities of access;

3. Participation versus non-involvement;

4. Recognition versus rejection, which addresses the issue of respecting and tolerating differences in a pluralist society; and,

5. Legitimacy versus illegitimacy (Jenson 1998).

An important component in remaining resilient to the impacts of climate change and climate-related disasters is the post-disaster recovery period. As noted in research on the topic, a focus not only of the physical rehabilitation of the built environment but on addressing the emotional and mental health impacts of disasters is needed to ensure a successful community recovery during the post-disaster period. The emotional and mental health impacts of disasters can be addressed through various types of social cohesion including social and support networks (including access to social support in times of need), social participation (as the obverse of social isolation and being cut off from relationships providing friendship and company), and community engagement (including volunteering which draws people together to work for the benefit of others) (Townshend et al. 2015). While measuring the degree of social cohesion present in the city is not possible at this point, this subject is discussed here to emphasize the importance of social cohesion in increasing community resilience to the impacts of the climate change. Social cohesion here is highlighted as important component of community-based adaptative capacity and is discussed, as appropriate, in the discussions on specific climate-related hazards.

COMMUNITY ASSETS SURVEY RESULTS
In preparation for development of the Community Safety and Resilience Element, and Community Assets Survey was conducted to gather input from the general public about social cohesion, community strengths, and disaster preparedness. Survey respondents were asked which community assets and resources were most important to them under four different scenarios: Normal Life, Disaster Preparation, During a Disaster Event, and during Post Disaster recovery. The survey was open from August 12 through August 30, 2021. There were 266 responses to the survey. Highlights from the survey are included below and have been integrated into the goals, polices, in programs in this element. The full survey results can be found in Appendix D.

Community Strengths: Across all four scenarios, these assets were frequently mentioned:

1. Public Information (Disaster Information, Social Media, News) a. 47 mentions accounting for 20% of responses

2. Medical/Emergency Services (Public Safety)
a. 41 mentions accounting for 17% of responses

3. Open Space/Trails
a. 31 mentions accounting for 13% of responses
Respondents listed receiving the following benefits from the assets listed above:

Public Information: (Disaster Information, Social Media, News)

6. Access to accurate and understandable information

7. Informs about the current state of situation

8. Enhances ability to prepare and mobilize

9. Provides direction and recommendation

10. Connects community members to resources
Medical/Emergency Services:

11. Vaccines, injuries, aid

12. Provides reassurance and “peace of mind” when services are well staffed, present, and equipped
Open Space/Trails:

13. Improves mental and physical health

14. Outlet for activity or relaxation

15. Overall fitness and wellbeing are supported

Overview:

The Environmental Justice Survey for Community Organizations was intended to gather input on environmental topics from organizations that serve vulnerable and/or disadvantaged communities in the City of San Luis Obispo. More specifically, the survey gathered input on how the city can better support disadvantaged communities by reducing environmental pollution, identifying key community needs, and increasing the voice of marginalized groups in the City's decision-making process. The survey findings will support the integration of environmental justice into the City’s General Plan Safety and Community Resilience Element.

The survey was open for two weeks from August 12th, 2021 to August 26th 2021. The survey was sent via email to 59 staff members at local organizations or agencies that work with disadvantaged communities or focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The survey was also shared with participants of the Environmental Justice Working Group.

Participation:

The survey received 7 responses from the following organizations:
• Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County
• SLO Food Bank
• HASLO
• United Way of San Luis Obispo County
• Lumina Alliance
• CAPSLO
• Habitat for Humanity SLO County
Populations Served:

All respondents indicated that they serve populations that live, work, and/or go to school in the City of San Luis Obispo. All organizations reported that they serve low-income, non/limited English speakers. Also, all organizations serve young children and youth within SLO. The majority (6/7) of responses showed to support those who are unhoused, unemployed, and uninsured. People without vehicle access, undocumented individuals and families, people with disabilities, and outdoor workers are also served by a majority of organizations. About half of respondents show support for people with chronic health conditions and people with severe mental illness.

Only one organization (Diversity Coalition SLO County) indicated that they aid racial and ethnic people of color and faith-based communities, this same organization specifically supports BIPOC populations. One individual organization described that they serve “low income residents of SLO County who lack the resources to purchase or obtain enough food for themselves or their families” while another organization noted they assist those with affordable housing ownership. One other organization serves victims of violence particularly.

Environmental Pollutants Adversely Impacting Vulnerable Populations Types of environmental pollutants (all listed frequently among the respondents)

• Exhaust and traffic pollution from living in proximity to major roadways • Contaminated drinking water
• Lead paint or pipes in housing
• Pesticide pollution from agriculture
• Living/working near environmental clean-up sites
• Smoke from wildfires
Populations are affected mostly by living and working near the environmental pollutants listed.

Farmworkers are at risk to greater pesticide exposure and are also impacted more by wildfire smoke as they are working outdoors.

Low income housing are often based in areas that are more impacted by pollutants such as noise and exhaust from higher traffic volumes.

Due to insufficient resources and low level priorities from local governments, vulnerable populations are subject to substandard living conditions, lack of proper education/recognition, and are of a low priority for remediation.

Recommendations for how the City can Help Protect Vulnerable Populations from Environmental Pollutants, Hazards and Climate Change Impacts • Host listening sessions inside of affected communities. • Devote new human and material resources to investigate and remedy environmental injustices.
• Identify and appoint leadership from within the affected communities • Provide monetary or other basic needs support to farmworkers when their work is disrupted by unusual or dramatic climate events
• Incorporate greater city plans to clean up pollutants and test for pollutants in soil and other locations
• Provide access to resources, education, funding, and create platforms/events where community members may share their experiences and be intentionally listened to Community Improvements to Protect the Wellbeing and Safety of Vulnerable Populations

1. Better transit services (more routes, more stops, shorter wait times).

2. Low income housing.

3. • Cooling Centers.
• Broadband access.
• Cooling/heating for homes and apartments (air conditioning/heat pumps).

4. • Park access.
• Address food deserts by providing farmers markets and such in low income areas. • Street Trees.
• Translation Services.

• Safe parking/ camping areas for the unhoused population that includes services and resources.
• Community gathering places.
“Real, tangible short and long-term, result driven solutions that are not based in politically motivated rhetoric and empty promises”
A general consensus shows these needs are anticipated to change beside one organization which does not think community needs will change as impacts increase. It was noted that better public transportation and cooling centers will rise in importance. Additionally, heightened rates of demographic change will increase need for affordable housing, educational resources, and access to broadband.

Important Public Services and Amenities
• Access to safe living conditions, legal services, and affordable child care. • Libraries, bus transit, bicycling paths, safe overnight parking, public bathrooms, programs specifically targeted towards low-income housing.
• Living wage jobs and access to affordable housing.
• Access to public parks and recreation
• Transit improvements for senior and disabled populations.

Specifically for disaster situations
• Cooling centers, clean and safe shelters
• Access to food, clean water, electricity, and transportation • Translation services and assistance for those with mobility issues • Temporary housing for displaced individuals
Healthy Food Access
• Increase support for food banks
o Partner with SLO Food Bank to determine regional gaps in service. o Create opportunities for food distributions, pantries, free farmer’s markets in underserved communities.
• Improve public transportation to super markets and farmers markets • Support food banks, farms, and gardens for low income neighbors Participation in the Public Decision-Making Process
Barriers
• Language barriers seem to be most prevalent.
• Lack of trust also drives participation downward.
• Don’t hear about opportunities (e.g not well connected to the City communication channels) • Seems to be inaccessible to many people:
o Too little time to engage ( when struggling to put food on table, dealing with violence, engagement in public government not on radar.

o Inaccessible meeting times
• Disconnection between members of the public and government body o Topics of city meeting not relevant
o Lack of interest
o Lack of knowledge on government processes.

Recommendations for improved involvement and communications • Ensure affected communities have opportunities to create agendas, not simply respond to agendas.
• Incentivize participation
• Consider alternative meeting times outside of work week/hours • Collaborate with trusted partners/agencies within different communities to spread information (specific recommendation to use CAPSLO to disseminate info of interest to civilians.
• “Prioritize and focus on real life, basic needs that enhance and sustain” Additional Comments
- “Further reduce jobs/housing imbalance in order to reduce job commute times and all things associated with them (reduced air quality, decreased quality of life etc.) - Please sustain our work making environmental justice a core priority in the city’s service to all its citizens, don’t allow to fall between the cracks... Thank you.

Appendix A
CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo County
Hazard Severity Zone Map

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17.78.010

17.78.020

17.78.030

17.78.040

17.78.050

17.78.060
Chapter 17.78

FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION
Sections:

Statutory authorization, findings of fact, purpose, and methods.

Definitions.

General provisions.

Administration.

Provisions for flood hazard reduction.

Variance procedure for floodplains.

17.78.010 Statutory authorization, findings of fact, purpose, and methods.

A. Statutory Authorization. The Legislature of the State has in Government Code Sections 65302, 65560, and 65800 conferred upon local governments the authority to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the council does hereby adopt these floodplain management regulations.

B. Findings of Fact.

1. The flood hazard areas of the city are subject to periodic inundation, which results in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety, and general welfare.

2. These flood losses are caused by uses that are inadequately elevated, floodproofed, or protected from flood damage. The cumulative effect of obstructions in areas of special flood hazards that increase flood heights and velocities also contributes to flood losses.

C. Statement of Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by legally enforceable regulations applied uniformly throughout the community to all publicly and privately owned land within floodprone, mudslide (i.e., mudflow), and/or flood-related erosion areas. These regulations are designed to:

1. Protect human life and health;

2. Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects;

3. Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;

4. Minimize prolonged business interruptions;
Ch. 17.78 Flood Damage Prevention | San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Page 1 of 15 The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1720, passed August 16, 2022.

5. Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains; electric, telephone and sewer lines; and streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard;

6. Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future blighted areas caused by flood damage;

7. Ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard; and

8. Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.

D. Methods of Reducing Flood Losses. To accomplish its purposes, this chapter includes regulations to:

1. Restrict or prohibit uses that are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards, or that result in damaging increases in erosion or flood heights or velocities;

2. Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities that serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction;

3. Control the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers which help accommodate or channel floodwaters;

4. Control filling, grading, dredging, and other development that may increase flood damage;

5. Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers that will unnaturally divert floodwaters or that may increase flood hazards in other areas; and

6. These regulations take precedence over any less restrictive conflicting local laws, ordinances, and codes. (Ord. 1650 § 3 (Exh. B), 2018)

17.78.020 Definitions.

Words or phrases used in this chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they have in common usage and to give this chapter its most reasonable application, and as defined in Chapter 17.158 (General Definitions) under “Floodplain Management Regulations.” (Ord. 1650 § 3 (Exh. B), 2018)

17.78.030 General provisions.

A. Lands to Which This Chapter Applies. This chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazards and where specifically identified, XB zones, within the jurisdiction of the city.

B. Basis for Establishing the Areas of Special Flood Hazard. The areas of special flood hazard identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the “Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for the City of San Luis Obispo, California in San Luis Obispo County” dated October 1978, with accompanying flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) and flood boundary and floodway maps (FBFMs), dated April 1979, and all subsequent amendments and/or revisions, are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter. This FIS and attendant Ch. 17.78 Flood Damage Prevention | San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Page 2 of 15 The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1720, passed August 16, 2022.

mapping are the minimum areas of applicability of this chapter and may be supplemented by studies for other areas, including local experience and historical data which allow implementation of this chapter and which are recommended to the council by the floodplain administrator to be included in the regulated area. The study, FIRMs, and FBFMs are on file at the Department of Public Works, 919 Palm Street.

C. Compliance. No structure or land shall hereafter be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered without full compliance with the terms of this chapter and other applicable regulations. Violation of the requirements (including violations of conditions and safeguards) shall constitute a misdemeanor. Nothing here shall prevent the council from taking such lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.

D. Abrogation and Greater Restrictions. This chapter is not intended to repeal, abrogate, or impair any existing easements, covenants, or deed restrictions. However, where this chapter and another ordinance, easement, covenant, or deed restriction conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent restrictions shall prevail.

E. Interpretation. In the interpretation and application of this chapter, all provisions shall be:

1. Considered as minimum requirements;

2. Liberally construed in favor of the governing body; and

3. Deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers granted under state statutes.

F. Warning and Disclaimer of Liability. The degree of flood protection required by this chapter is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific and engineering considerations. Larger floods can and will occur on rare occasions. Flood heights may be increased by human-made or natural causes. This chapter does not imply that land outside the areas of special flood hazards or uses allowed within such areas will be free from flooding or flood damages. This chapter shall not create liability on the part of the council, any officer or employee thereof, the state, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for any flood damages that result from reliance on this chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made hereunder. (Ord. 1650 § 3 (Exh. B), 2018)

17.78.040 Administration.

A. Designation of the Floodplain Administrator. The public works director or his/her designee is hereby appointed to administer, implement, and enforce this chapter by granting or denying development permits in accord with its provisions.

B. Duties and Responsibilities of the Floodplain Administrator. The duties and responsibilities of the floodplain administrator shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. Permit Review. Review all development permits to determine:
a. Permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied, including determination of substantial improvement and substantial damage of existing structures; Ch. 17.78 Flood Damage Prevention | San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Page 3 of 15 The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1720, passed August 16, 2022.

b. The applicant was advised other local, state or federal permits may be required; c. The site is reasonably safe from flooding;
d. The proposed development does not adversely affect the carrying capacity of areas where base flood elevations have been determined but a floodway has not been designated. This means that the cumulative effect of the proposed development when combined with all other existing and anticipated development will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the city;
e. If the proposed development is within a designated infill area, special floodplain management zone, or the Mid-Higuera Specific Plan Area as defined by the Drainage Design Manual, that the more stringent requirements of the manual have been met; and
f. All letters of map revision (LOMRs) for flood control projects are approved prior to the issuance of building permits. Building permits must not be issued based on conditional letters of map revision (CLOMRs). Approved CLOMRs allow construction of the proposed flood control project and land preparation as specified in the “start of construction” definition.

2. Development of Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage Procedures. a. Using FEMA publication FEMA 213, “Answers to Questions About Substantially Damaged Buildings,” develop detailed procedures for identifying and administering requirements for substantial improvement and substantial damage, to include defining “market value.” b. Ensure procedures are coordinated with other departments/divisions and implemented by community development department staff.

3. Review, Use, and Development of Other Base Flood Data. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in compliance with Section 17.78.030(B) (Basis for Establishing the Areas of Special Flood Hazard), the floodplain administrator shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a Federal or State agency, or other source, in order to administer Section 17.78.050 (Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction).

NOTE: A base flood elevation may be obtained using one of two methods from the FEMA publication FEMA 265, “Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas—A Guide for Obtaining and Developing Base (100-Year) Flood Elevations” dated July 1995.

4. Notification of Other Agencies.
a. Alteration or Relocation of a Watercourse.
i. Notify adjacent communities and the California Department of Water Resources prior to alteration or relocation;
ii. Submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and Ch. 17.78 Flood Damage Prevention | San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Page 4 of 15 The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1720, passed August 16, 2022.

iii. Ensure that the flood carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of the watercourse is maintained.
b. Base Flood Elevation Changes Due to Physical Alterations. i. Within six months of information becoming available or project completion, whichever comes first, the floodplain administrator shall submit or ensure that the permit applicant submits technical or scientific data to FEMA for a letter of map revision (LOMR). ii. All LOMRs for flood control projects are approved prior to the issuance of building permits.

Building permits must not be issued based on conditional letters of map revision (CLOMRs).

Approved CLOMRs allow construction of the proposed flood control project and land preparation as specified in the “start of construction” definition.

Such submissions are necessary so that upon confirmation of those physical changes affecting flooding conditions, risk premium rates and floodplain management requirements are based on current data.
c. Changes in Corporate Boundaries. Notify FEMA in writing whenever the corporate boundaries have been modified by annexation or other means and include a copy of a map of the community clearly delineating the new corporate limits.

5. Documentation of Floodplain Development. Obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available as needed the following:
a. Certification required by Sections 17.78.050(A)(3) and 17.78.050(D) (lowest floor elevations); b. Certification required by Section 17.78.050(A)(3) (elevation or floodproofing of nonresidential structures);
c. Certification required by Section 17.78.050(A)(3) (wet floodproofing standard); d. Certification of elevation required by Section 17.78.050(C)(1) (subdivisions and other proposed development standards);
e. Certification required by Section 17.78.050(F)(2) (floodway encroachments); and f. Maintain a record of all variance actions, including justification for their issuance, and report such variances issued in its biennial report submitted to FEMA.

6. Map Determination. Make interpretations, where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions. The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in subsection (D) of this section.

7. Remedial Action. Take action to remedy violations of this chapter as specified in Section 17.78.030(C) (Compliance).

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8. Biennial Report. Complete and submit biennial report to FEMA.

9. Planning. Ensure the general plan is consistent with floodplain management objectives here.

10. Nonconversion of Enclosed Areas Below the Lowest Floor. To ensure that the areas below one foot above the base flood elevation (BFE) shall be used solely for parking vehicles, limited storage, or access to the building and not be finished for use as human habitation without first becoming fully compliant with the floodplain management ordinance in effect at the time of conversion, the floodplain administrator shall:
a. Determine which applicants for new construction and/or substantial improvements have fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are five feet or higher; b. Obtain a “Conversion Agreement for Construction Within Flood Hazard Areas” or equivalent between the property owner and the city. The agreement shall be recorded with the county of San Luis Obispo recorder as a deed restriction. The conversion agreement shall be in a form acceptable to the floodplain administrator and city attorney and:
i. Condition the property that there shall be no conversion of enclosed areas below the lowest floor elevation without first becoming fully compliant with this chapter and other city requirements. ii. Have the authority granted to the city to inspect any area of a structure below the base flood elevation to ensure compliance upon prior notice of at least seventy-two hours.

C. Development Permit. A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 17.78.030(B) (Basis for Establishing the Areas of Special Flood Hazard). Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the city. The applicant shall provide the following minimum information:

1. Plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing:
a. Location, dimensions, and elevation of the area in question, existing or proposed structures, storage of materials and equipment and their location;
b. Proposed locations of water supply, sanitary sewer, and other utilities; c. Grading information showing existing and proposed contours, any proposed fill, and drainage facilities;
d. Location of the regulatory floodway when applicable; e. Base flood elevation information as specified in Sections 17.78.030(B) (Basis for Establishing the Areas of Special Flood Hazard) or subsection (B)(3) (Review, Use, and Development of Other Base Flood Data) of this section;
f. Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures; and
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g. Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed, as required in Section 17.78.050(A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing) and detailed in FEMA Technical Bulletin TB 3-93.

2. Certification from a registered civil engineer or architect that the nonresidential floodproofed building meets the floodproofing criteria in Section 17.78.050(A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing).

3. For a crawlspace foundation, location and total net area of foundation openings as required in Section

17.78.050(A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing) and detailed in FEMA Technical Bulletins 1-93 and 7-93.

4. Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of proposed development.

5. All appropriate certifications listed in subsection (B)(5) (Documentation of Floodplain Development) of this section.

D. Appeals. The council shall hear and decide appeals when it is alleged there is an error in any requirement, decision, or determination made by the floodplain administrator in the enforcement or administration of this chapter. (Ord. 1650 § 3 (Exh. B), 2018)

17.78.050 Provisions for flood hazard reduction.

A. Standards of Construction. In all areas of special flood hazards, the following standards are required:

1. Anchoring. All new construction and substantial improvements of structures, including manufactured homes, shall be adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy.

2. Construction Materials and Methods. All new construction and substantial improvements of structures, including manufactured homes, shall be constructed:
a. With flood-resistant materials, and utility equipment resistant to flood damage for areas below the base flood elevation;
b. Using methods and practices that minimize flood damage; c. With electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air conditioning equipment, and other service facilities that are designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding; and
d. Within zones AH or AO, so that there are adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes to guide floodwaters around and away from proposed structures.

3. Elevation and Floodproofing.

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a. Residential Construction. Upon the completion of the structure, the elevation of the lowest floor, including basement, shall be certified by a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor, and verified by the Building Official to be properly elevated. Such certification and verification shall be provided to the floodplain administrator. All new construction or substantial improvements of residential structures shall have the lowest floor, including basement:
i. In AE, AH, A1-30 zones, elevated one foot above the base flood elevation. ii. In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height one foot above the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least three feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified.
iii. In an A zone, without BFEs specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A zone], elevated one foot above the base flood elevation; as determined under Section 17.78.040(B)(3) (Review, Use, and Development of Other Base Flood Data).
iv. In an XB zone, above the base flood elevation.
b. Nonresidential Construction. All new construction or substantial improvements of nonresidential structures shall either be elevated to conform with subsection (A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing) of this section or:
i. Be floodproofed, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, below the elevation recommended under subsection (A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing) of this section, so that the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water; ii. Have structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy; and
iii. Be certified by a registered civil engineer or architect that the standards of subsection (A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing) of this section are satisfied. Such certification shall be provided to the floodplain administrator.
c. Flood Openings. All new construction and substantial improvements of structures with fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor (excluding basements) that are usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage, and which are subject to flooding, shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwater. Designs for meeting this requirement must meet the following minimum criteria:
i. For nonengineered openings:
(a) Have a minimum of two openings on different sides having a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding; (b) The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade; Ch. 17.78 Flood Damage Prevention | San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Page 8 of 15 The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1720, passed August 16, 2022.

(c) Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves or other coverings or devices; provided, that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwater; and (d) Buildings with more than one enclosed area must have openings on exterior walls for each area to allow floodwater to directly enter; or
ii. Be certified by a registered civil engineer or architect. d. Manufactured Homes.
i. Manufactured homes located outside of manufactured home parks or subdivisions shall meet the elevation and floodproofing requirement in subsection (A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing) of this section.
ii. Manufactured homes placed within manufactured home parks or subdivisions shall meet the standards in subsection D (Standards for Manufactured Homes Within Manufactured Home Parks or Subdivisions) of this section. Additional guidance may be found in FEMA Technical Bulletins TB 1-93 and TB 7-93.
e. Garages and Low-Cost Accessory Structures.
i. Attached Garages.
(a) A garage attached to a residential structure, constructed with the garage floor slab below the BFE, must be designed to allow for the automatic entry of floodwaters. See subsection (A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing) of this section. Areas of the garage below the BFE must be constructed with flood-resistant materials. See subsection (A)(2) (Construction Materials and Methods) of this section.
(b) A garage attached to a nonresidential structure must meet the above requirements or be dry floodproofed. For guidance on below-grade parking areas, see FEMA Technical Bulletin TB-6. ii. Detached Garages and Accessory Structures.
(a) Accessory structures used solely for parking (two-car detached garages or smaller) or limited storage (small, low-cost sheds), as defined in Section 17.158.016—F Definitions, under Floodplain Management Regulations, may be constructed such that its floor is below the base flood elevation (BFE), provided the structure is designed and constructed in compliance with the following requirements:
(1) Use of the accessory structure must be limited to parking or limited storage; (2) The portions of the accessory structure located below the BFE must be built using floodresistant materials; (3) The accessory structure must be adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, and lateral movement;
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(4) Any mechanical and utility equipment in the accessory structure must be elevated or floodproofed to or above the BFE;
(5) The accessory structure must comply with floodplain encroachment provisions in subsection F (Floodways) of this section; and
(6) The accessory structure must be designed to allow for the automatic entry of floodwaters in compliance with subsection (A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing) of this section.
(b) Detached garages and accessory structures not meeting the above standards must be constructed in compliance with all applicable standards in subsection A (Standards of Construction) of this section.

B. Standards for Utilities.

1. All new and replacement water supply and sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate:
a. Infiltration of floodwaters into the systems; and
b. Discharge from the systems into floodwaters.

2. On-site waste disposal systems shall be located to avoid impairment to them or contamination from them during flooding.

C. Standards for Subdivisions and Other Proposed Development.

1. All new subdivisions proposals and other proposed development, including proposals for manufactured home parks and subdivisions, greater than fifty lots or five acres, whichever is the lesser, shall:
a. Identify the special flood hazard areas (SFHA) and base flood elevations (BFE). b. Identify the elevations of lowest floors of all proposed structures and pads on the final plans. c. If the site is filled above the base flood elevation, the following as-built information for each structure shall be certified by a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor and provided as part of an application for a letter of map revision based on fill (LOMR-F) to the floodplain administrator:
i. Lowest floor elevation.
ii. Pad elevation.
iii. Lowest adjacent grade.

2. All subdivision proposals and other proposed development shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.

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3. All subdivision proposals and other proposed development shall have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems located and constructed to minimize flood damage.

4. All subdivisions and other proposed development shall provide adequate drainage to reduce exposure to flood hazards.

D. Standards for Manufactured Homes Within Manufactured Home Parks or Subdivisions. All manufactured homes in special flood hazard areas shall meet the anchoring standards in subsection (A)(1) (Anchoring) of this section, construction materials and methods requirements in subsection (A)(2) (Construction Materials and Methods) of this section, flood openings requirements in subsection (A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing) of this section, and garages and low-cost accessory structure standards in subsection (A)(3) (Elevation and Floodproofing) of this section. Manufactured homes located outside of manufactured home parks or subdivisions shall meet the elevation and floodproofing requirement in subsection (A)(3) of this section.

1. All manufactured homes that are placed or substantially improved on sites located: (a) in a new manufactured home park or subdivision; (b) in an expansion to an existing manufactured home park or subdivision; or (c) in an existing manufactured home park or subdivision on a site upon which a manufactured home has incurred “substantial damage” as the result of a flood shall within zones A1-30, AH, and AE on the community’s flood insurance rate map, shall be elevated on a permanent foundation such that the lowest floor of the manufactured home is elevated one foot above the base flood elevation and be securely fastened to an adequately anchored foundation system to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement.

2. All manufactured homes to be placed or substantially improved on sites in an existing manufactured home park or subdivision within zones A1-30, AH, and AE on the community’s flood insurance rate map that are not subject to the provisions of subsection (D)(1) of this section shall be securely fastened to an adequately anchored foundation system to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement, and be elevated so that either the:
a. Lowest floor of the manufactured home is at least one foot above the base flood elevation; or b. Manufactured home chassis is supported by reinforced piers or other foundation elements of at least equivalent strength that are no less than thirty-six inches in height above grade.

Upon the completion of the structure, the elevation of the lowest floor, including basement, shall be certified by a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor, and verified by the building official, to be properly elevated. Such certification and verification shall be provided to the floodplain administrator.

E. Standards for Recreational Vehicles.

1. All recreational vehicles placed in zones A1-30, AH, and AE shall either:
a. Be on the site for fewer than one hundred eighty consecutive days; or b. Be fully licensed and ready for highway use. A recreational vehicle is ready for highway use if it is on its wheels or jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick-disconnect-type utilities and security devices, and has no permanently attached additions; or
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c. Meet the permit requirements of Section 17.78.040(C) (Development Permit) and the elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes in subsection (D)(1) of this section.

F. Floodways. Since floodways are extremely hazardous areas due to the velocity of floodwaters that carry debris, potential projectiles, and erosion potential, the following provisions apply:

1. Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development, including fill, shall be allowed within zones A1-30 and AE unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the city.

2. If the proposed development is within a designated infill area, special floodplain management zone, or the Mid-Higuera Specific Plan Area as defined by the Drainage Design Manual, the more stringent requirements of the manual apply.

3. Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the city shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.

4. If subsections (F)(1) and (F)(2) of this section are satisfied, all new construction, substantial improvement, and other proposed new development shall comply with all other applicable flood hazard reduction provisions of this subsection. (Ord. 1650 § 3 (Exh. B), 2018)

17.78.060 Variance procedure for floodplains.

A. Nature of Floodplain Variances. The issuance of a variance is for floodplain management purposes only.

Insurance premium rates are determined by statute according to actuarial risk and will not be modified by the granting of a variance.

The variance criteria contained in this section of the chapter are based on the general principle of zoning law that variances pertain to a piece of property and are not personal in nature. A variance may be granted for a parcel of property with physical characteristics so unusual that complying with the requirements of this chapter would create an exceptional hardship to the applicant or the surrounding property owners. The characteristics must be unique to the property and not be shared by adjacent parcels. The unique characteristic must pertain to the land itself, not to the structure, its inhabitants, or the property owners.

It is the duty of the council to help protect its citizens from flooding. This need is so compelling and the implications of the cost of insuring a structure built below flood level are so serious that variances from the flood elevation or from other requirements in this chapter are quite rare. The long-term goal of preventing and reducing flood loss and damage can only be met if variances are strictly limited. Therefore, the variance guidelines provided in this chapter are more detailed and contain multiple provisions that must be met before a variance can be properly granted. The criteria are designed to screen out those situations in which alternatives other than a variance are more appropriate.

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B. Conditions for Variances.

1. Generally, variances may be issued for new construction, substantial improvement, and other proposed new development to be erected on a lot of one-half acre or less in size contiguous to and surrounded by lots with existing structures constructed below the base flood level; provided, that the procedures of Sections

17.78.040 (Administration) and 17.78.050 (Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction) of this chapter have been fully considered. As the lot size increases beyond one-half acre, the technical justification required for issuing the variance increases.

2. Variances may be issued for the repair or rehabilitation of “historic structures” (as defined in Chapter

17.158: General Definitions, under Floodplain Management Regulations) upon a determination that the proposed repair or rehabilitation will not preclude the structure’s continued designation as a historic structure and the variance is the minimum necessary to preserve the historic character and design of the structure.

3. Variances shall not be issued within any mapped regulatory floodway if any increase in flood levels during the base flood discharge would result.

4. Variances shall only be issued upon a determination that the variance is the “minimum necessary,” considering the flood hazard, to afford relief. “Minimum necessary” means to afford relief with a minimum of deviation from the requirements of this chapter. For example, in the case of variances to an elevation requirement, this means the council need not grant permission for the applicant to build at grade, or even to whatever elevation the applicant proposes, but only to that elevation which the council believes will both provide relief and preserve the integrity of this chapter.

5. Any applicant to whom a variance is granted shall be given written notice over the signature of the floodplain administrator that:
a. The issuance of a variance to construct a structure below the base flood level will result in increased premium rates for flood insurance up to amounts as high as twenty-five dollars for one hundred dollars of insurance coverage; and
b. Such construction below the base flood level increases risks to life and property. It is recommended that a copy of the notice shall be recorded by the floodplain administrator in the office of the County of San Luis Obispo recorder and shall be recorded in a manner so that it appears in the chain of title of the affected parcel of land.

6. The floodplain administrator shall maintain a record of all variance actions, including justification for his/ her issuance, and report such variances issued in its biennial report submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

C. Authority to Grant Variances. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 17.114 (Variances), the council shall be responsible for conducting public hearings on variances pertaining to the provisions of this chapter and for acting upon such variance applications.

1. In acting upon requests for variances, the council shall consider all technical evaluations, all relevant factors and standards specified in other sections of this chapter, and the:

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a. Danger that materials may be swept onto other lands to the injury of others; b. Danger of life and property due to flooding or erosion damage; c. Susceptibility of the proposed facility and its contents to flood damage and the effect of such damage on the existing individual owner and future owners of the property; d. Importance of the services provided by the proposed facility to the community; e. Necessity to the facility of a waterfront location, where applicable; f. Availability of alternative locations for the proposed use which are not subject to flooding or erosion damage;
g. Compatibility of the proposed use with existing and anticipated development; h. Relationship of the proposed use to the general plan and floodplain management program for that area;
i. Safety of access to the property in time of flood for ordinary and emergency vehicles; j. Expected heights, velocity, duration, rate of rise, and sediment transport of the floodwaters expected at the site; and
k. Costs of providing governmental services during and after flood conditions, including maintenance and repair of public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water system, and streets and bridges.

2. Variances shall only be issued upon a:
a. Showing of good and sufficient cause;
b. Determination that failure to grant the variance would result in exceptional hardship to the applicant; and
c. Determination that the granting of a variance will not result in increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety, or extraordinary public expense, create a public nuisance, cause fraud and victimization of the public, or conflict with existing local laws or ordinances.

3. Variances may be issued for new construction, substantial improvement, and other proposed new development necessary for the conduct of a functionally dependent use; provided, that the provisions of subsections (C)(1) through (C)(4) of this section are satisfied and that the structure or other development is protected by methods that minimize flood damages during the base flood and does not result in additional threats to public safety and does not create a public nuisance.

4. Upon consideration of the factors of subsection B of this section and the purposes of this chapter, the council may attach such conditions to the granting of variances as it deems necessary to further the purposes of this chapter. (Ord. 1650 § 3 (Exh. B), 2018)
Ch. 17.78 Flood Damage Prevention | San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Page 14 of 15 The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1720, passed August 16, 2022.

The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1720, passed August 16, 2022.

Disclaimer: The City Clerk's Office has the official version of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code. Users should contact the City Clerk's Office for ordinances passed subsequent to the ordinance cited above.

City Website: www.slocity.org
City Telephone: (805) 781-7100
Code Publishing Company
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Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Safety Element Existing GoalsGoal 1  Minimize injury and loss of life. Goal 2 Minimize damage to public and private property.Goal 3 Minimize social and economic disruptions resulting from injury, death, and property damage.

New GoalsGoal 1: Public Safety
Minimize injury and loss of life, damage to public and private property, and social and economic disruptions resulting from injury, death, and property damage.

Goal 2: Community Resilience
All community members are enabled and empowered to prepare for,respond to and recover from disruptions while seizing opportunities to thrive in changing conditions.

Goal 3: City Government Resilience
The City’s facilities, infrastructure, and operations are resilient, innovative, and continue to cost‐effectively provide core functions and services for all community members in times of acute disaster and ongoing disruptions.

Goal 4: Environmental Justice
A diverse, equitable, and healthy community where those who are disproportionately affected by natural hazards and climate change have the resources and capacity to participate in public processes and have an active role in preparing and responding to future impacts.

Goal 5: Natural Systems
The natural environment sustains and supports ecological and community health, safety, and natural beauty, provides equitable access to nature, and can adapt and keep pace with a dynamic, changingclimate.

Goal 6: Built Environment
Community buildings, public spaces and transportation systems withstand the natural hazards and escalating impacts of climate change, provide places of refuge, foster social cohesiveness, minimize injury and loss of life, and equitably protect personal and community assets.

Safety Element Existing Policies & Programs 2.1 A Flood Hazard Avoidance and Reduction The City will develop and carry out environmentally sensitive programs to reduce or eliminate the potential for flooding in previouslydeveloped, flood‐prone areas of the city.

Flooding Modified Policy FL‐3.1: Climate‐
Informed Flood Management
The City shall incorporate the climate‐informed flood risk modelling in flood management plans, programs, and procedures.

2.1 B The City should allow flood waters to move through natural channels.

Flow should be accommodated by removing debris and man‐made obstructions. The City recognizes that many natural channels cannot contain runoff from a storm greater than a 25‐year event. Areas flooded by storms as large as a 100‐year event will be mapped.

Flooding Substantially
Changed; Expanded
Policy FL‐3.4: Flooding and Post‐Wildfire Debris Flow
The City shall conduct a detailed assessment to identify key impact areas in the city from a post‐wildfire debris flow scenario and the implications this scenario would have on stormwater runoff during larger storm events. Develop a set of pre‐disaster mitigation measures to be implemented to help mitigate impacts from postwildfire debris flow events. Mitigation measures could include: rapid reforestation and stabilization of wildfire‐affected areas susceptible to debris flow runoff to stabilize soils; communication and coordination with residents and businesses located within potential impact areas from post‐wildfire debris flow events; development of analysis techniques to predict debris flow events based on rainfall and moisture conditions.

2.1 C No new building or fill should encroach beyond, or extend over, the top‐ of‐bank of any creek.

Flooding Substantially
Changed; Expanded
Policy FL‐3.2: Flood Protection for New Development
The City shall ensure that all new development adheres to all provisions in Chapter 17.78 “Flood Damage Prevention” in the City’s Municipal Code, consider climate models, and update the provisions accordingly to remain consistent with any future federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.

Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

2.1 D Within predominantly developed areas (such as downtown) infill, remodel, and replacement projects should not displace more flood water than previous structures on the site or in the vicinity. Commercial buildings may be flood‐proofed where providing floor levels above the 100‐year storm flow is not appropriate due to adjacent improvements. New infill buildings may be required to have greater setbacks than their older neighbors.

Flooding Modified Policy FL‐3.3: Flood
Protection for Existing Development
The City shall continue identification and mapping of areas that are at increased flood risk from large storm events using the climateinformed flood risk modeling that was developed as part of the City’s climate change vulnerability assessment.

2.1 E Within new development areas, such as the potential expansion areas shown in Figure 2 of the Land Use Element, substantial displacement of flood waters should be avoided by: 1.Keeping a substantial amount of flood‐prone land in the vicinity as open space; 2.Enlarging man‐made bottlenecks, such as culverts, which contribute to flood waters backing up from them; 3.Accommodating in such places uses which have relatively low ratios of building coverage to site area, for which shallow flooding of parking and landscape areas would cause minimum damage.

4.Requiring new buildings to be constructed above the 100‐year flood level.

Flooding Modified Policy FL‐3.2: Flood
Protection for New Development: FL 3.5 A Resilient Flood Management System: Program FL‐3.14 Research and Develop Flood Protection Meansures Policy FL‐3.2: Flood Protection for New Development
The City shall ensure that all new development adheres to all provisions in Chapter 17.78 “Flood Damage Prevention” in the City’s Municipal Code, consider climate models, and update the provisions accordingly to remain consistent with any future federal, state, and local regulatory requirements. Policy FL‐3.5: A Resilient Flood Management System The City shall explore opportunities to add redundancy to the city’s existing stormwater and floodmanagement systems to mitigate impacts from increased storm intensities, as needed. Toprovide co‐benefits to the SLO community, design flood management system redundancies toserve multiple purposes that add value to the community (e.g., detention basins that serve asparks or recreation areas). Resilient flood management projects should be prioritized in locationsof the city that are the most vulnerable. Program FL‐3.14 Research and Develop Flood Protection MeasuresResearch and develop flood damage prevention measures that can be applied to existing properties that will be at increased flood risk due to climate change.

2.1 F Creek alternations shall be considered only if there is no practical alternative, consistent with the Conservation and Open Space Element.

Flooding Modified Policy FL‐3.2: Flood
Protection for New Development ; Program FL‐3.10: Urban Creeks Vegetation Management Plan Policy FL‐3.2: Flood Protection for New DevelopmentThe City shall ensure that all new development adheres to all provisions in Chapter 17.78 “FloodDamage Prevention” in the City’s Municipal Code, consider climate models, and update the provisions accordingly to remain consistent with any future federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.; Develop Urban Creeks Vegetation Management Plan to address excessive and noxious vegetation growth and remove dead material to prevent debris jams and reduce likelihood of flooding in and around the City and integrate as an additional section in the updated Waterway Management Plan.

2.1 G Development close to creeks shall be designed to avoid damage due to future creek bank erosion. Property owners shall be responsible for protecting their developments from damage caused by future bank loss due to flood flows.

Flooding Modified Policy FL‐3.2: Flood
Protection for New Development
Policy FL‐3.2: Flood Protection for New DevelopmentThe City shall ensure that all new development adheres to all provisions in Chapter 17.78 “FloodDamage Prevention” in the City’s Municipal Code, consider climate models, and update the provisions accordingly to remain consistent with any future federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.

2.2 Water Impoundments
The design and review of proposed water reservoirs, ponds, and tanks, will conform to State standards for seismic safety and will include an evaluation of potential inundation areas.

Flooding Modified Policy FL‐3.2: Flood
Protection for New Development
Policy FL‐3.2: Flood Protection for New DevelopmentThe City shall ensure that all new development adheres to all provisions in Chapter 17.78 “FloodDamage Prevention” in the City’s Municipal Code, consider climate models, and update theprovisions accordingly to remain consistent with any future federal, state, and local regulatoryrequirements.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

3.0 Adequate Fire Services
Development shall be approved only when adequate fire suppression services and facilities are available or will be made available concurrent with development, considering the setting, type, intensity, and form of the proposed development.

Wildfire Modified;
Expanded
Policy FI‐5.3: City‐Wide Fire‐Smart New Development
The City shall only approve development when adequate fire suppression services and facilities are available or will be made available concurrent with development, considering the setting, type, intensity, and form of the proposed development. Ensure that new development projects include adequate measures to minimize fire hazards while remaining in compliance with housing laws regarding objective design standards and discretionary review.Fire protection plans should address wildland fuel transition zones surrounding the development and include the following components: Provisions for the maintenance of vegetation within the subdivision to reduce wildfire risk; Requirements for hardening of structures to mitigate fire risk that meets or exceed theCalifornia Building Code; Landscaping and defensible space design around a proposed structure that reduces wildfire risk.

3.1 A Wildland Fire Safety
Wildland fire hazard severity zones shall be classified as prescribed by Cal Fire. Areas within the City, including “Very High” Fire Hazard Severity Zones, if any, shall be classified by the City’s Fire Code Official based on findings supported by substantial evidence in the record as required by Government Code Section 51179 and considered by City Council at a public hearing. Meaningful, early notification and input shall be obtained from nearby neighborhoods which may be affected.

Wildfire Modified Policy FI‐5.4: Fire‐Smart
Buildings and High Or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones The City shall reduce wildfire risk associated with new development by requiring all new development located within any CAL FIRE designated High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone to: Meet or exceed the State’s Fire Safe Regulations (title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 2, articles 1‐5 commencing with section 1270) and Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations (title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3 commencing with section 1299.01). Include designs to minimize pockets or peninsulas or islands of flammable vegetation within a development. Include additional access roads, where feasible, to ensure adequate access for emergency equipment and civilian evacuation concurrently. All requirements and any deviations will be at the discretion of the Fire Code Official. Meet or exceed the California Building Code for Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure (Title 24, part 2, Chapter 7A). For all remodeled or rebuilt structures, require projects to meet current ignition resistance construction codes included in the State’s Fire Safe Regulations.

3.1 B New subdivisions shall be prohibited in areas of “Very High” wildland fire hazard as shown in Figure 2 unless part of conservation or open space acquisition program. Development of existing parcels shall require a development plan to manage fuels,  maintain a buffer zone, and provide adequate fire protection to the approval of the Chief Building Official. The development plan must be consistent with Policies required by the City’s Conservation and Open Space Element.

Wildfire Modified Policy FI‐5.2: City‐Wide
Fire‐Smart Land‐Use Planning
The City shall minimize fire risk in land‐use planning decisions including updates to zoning, subdivision codes and design criteria to mitigate wildfire hazards and reduce risks to new development. Promote the following risk reduction measures in future land use planning efforts in the city: Use wildfire risk analysis resources such as the CAL FIRE’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program data in updates to future housing site constraints analyses; Promote the use of clustered development patterns for subdivisions to require less fire suppression resources and that are easier to defend during wildfire events.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

3.1 C The City of San Luis Obispo is considered a “Community at Risk” due to the threat of wildfire impacting the urban community. The City shall continue to enhance the fire safety and construction codes for new buildings in order to reduce the risk of urban fires that may result from wildfires.  Citywide building code enhancements should include:  Fire resistant exterior wall coverings; Sprinkler protection in attic areas; and Ember resistant vent systems for attics and under floor areas and other provisions identified in the California Building Code Chapter 7A.

Wildfire Modified Policy FI‐5.3 City‐Wide
Fire Smart New Development; Policy FI‐5.4 Fire Smart  Buildings and High or Very Hight Fire Hazard Severity Zones Policy FI‐5.3: City‐Wide Fire‐Smart New Development The City shall only approve development when adequate fire suppression services and facilities are available or will be made available concurrent with development, considering the setting, type, intensity, and form of the proposed development. Ensure that new development projects Fire Climate Adaptation and Safety Element | 56 include adequate measures to minimize fire hazards while remaining in compliance with housing laws regarding objective design standards and discretionary review. Fire protection plans should address wildland fuel transition zones surrounding the development and include the following components: • Provisions for the maintenance of vegetation within the subdivision to reduce wildfire risk • Requirements for hardening of structures to mitigate fire risk that meets or exceed the California Building Code • Landscaping and defensible space design around a proposed structure that reduces wildfire risk. Policy FI‐5.4: Fire‐Smart Buildings and High Or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones The City shall reduce wildfire risk associated with new development by requiring all new development located within any CAL FIRE designated High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone to: Meet or exceed the State’s Fire Safe Regulations (title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 2, articles 1‐5 commencing with section 1270) and Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations (title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3 commencing with section 1299.01). Include designs to minimize pockets or peninsulas or islands of flammable vegetation within a development. Include additional access roads, where feasible, to ensure adequate access for emergency equipment and civilian evacuation concurrently. All requirements and any deviations will be at the discretion of the Fire Code Official. Meet or exceed the California Building Code for Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure (Title 24, part 2, Chapter 7A). For all remodeled or rebuilt structures, require projects to meet current ignition resistance construction codes included in the State’s Fire Safe Regulations.

5.5  Avoiding Faults Development shall not be located atop known faults. Applications for the following types of discretionary approvals within 100 meters (330 feet) of any fault that is previously known or discovered during site evaluation shall be subject to review and recommendation by a State‐ registered engineering geologist: change to a more intensive land‐use designation; subdivision into five or more parcels; development of multifamily, commercial, industrial, or institutional buildings. (See also Policy S 8.3, Critical Facilities Locations.)
Geologic Hazards
Modified Policy GE‐6.1 Avoiding
Faults
The City shall prohibit development atop known faults. Applications for development approvals within 100 meters (330 feet) of any fault that is previously known or discovered during site evaluation shall be subject to review and recommendation by a State‐registered engineering geologist.

5.6 Avoiding Slope Instability
Development shall not be located on or immediately below unstable slopes, or contribute to slope instability. Any development proposed in an area of moderate or high landslide potential shall be subject to review and recommendation by a State‐registered engineering geologist.

Geologic Hazards
Unchanged Policy GE‐6.2: Avoiding
Slope Instability
Development shall not be located on or immediately below unstable slopes, or contribute to slope instability. Any development proposed in an area of moderate or high landslide potential shall be subject to review and recommendation by a State‐registered engineering geologist.

5.7 Avoiding Liquefaction Hazards
Development may be located in areas of high liquefaction potential only if a site‐specific investigation by a qualified professional determines that the proposed development will not be at risk of damage from liquefaction. The Chief Building Official may waive this requirement upon determining that previous studies in the immediate area provide sufficient information.

Geologic Hazards
Unchanged Policy GE‐6.3: Avoiding
Liquefaction Hazards
Development shall not be located in areas of high liquefaction potential unless a site‐specific investigation by a qualified professional determines that the proposed development will not be at risk of damage from liquefaction. The Chief Building Official may waive this requirement upon determining that previous studies in the immediate area provide sufficient information.

6.2 Minimizing Hazardous Materials Exposure
People’s exposure to hazardous substances should be minimized.  City Operations
Expanded Policy OP‐7.4:

Minimizing Hazardous Materials Exposure
The City shall minimize people’s exposure to hazardous substances through ensuring businesses that use, store, or transport hazardous materials to take adequate measures to protect public health and safety.

6.3 Hazardous Materials in City Operations
The City should avoid using hazardous materials in its own operations to the greatest extent practical, and will follow all established health and safety practices when they are used.

City Operations
Expanded Policy OP‐7.6:

Hazardous Materials in City Operations
The City shall avoid using hazardous materials in its own operations to the greatest extent practical, and will follow all established health and safety practices when they are used. When managing pests and invasive plants, the City should use Integrated Pest Management practices and avoid the use of chemical insecticides and herbicides to the greatest extent practical.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

7.0 Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields
Land‐use decisions should avoid prolonged exposure of people tostrong electromagnetic fields. Appropriate uses for areas under or next to high‐voltage power transmission lines are agriculture, floodwater detention, roads, parking, materials storage, and parks and greenways with low‐intensity use. Residential yards may be located along but outside of high‐voltage power transmission line easements. School buildings and playgrounds, residential buildings, and work places should be set back from high‐voltage power transmission lines. The amount of setback will be a matter of judgment, considering the space available in which to locate uses within the site being planned.

City Operations
Removed

7.1 Notification to Buyers Near Electromagnetic Fields
When land containing major sources of electromagnetic fields, such as power transmission lines, is subdivided, the City will determine if a condition will be imposed requiring notification of prospective buyers that a source of electromagnetic fields exists and that studies have raised concerns about long‐term exposure.

City Operations
Removed

8.0 Airport Land Use Plan
Development should be permitted only if it is consistent with the San Luis Obispo County Airport Land Use Plan. Prospective buyers ofproperty that is subject to airport influence should be so informed.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.12 Critical
Facilities Locations
Program OP‐7.12: Critical Facilities LocationsThe following City facilities are necessary for community function and emergency response:• fire stations; • police main station; • water treatment plant; • raw water storage reservoirs/lakes; • wastewater treatment plant; • public works and utilities corporation yards; • principal telecommunications facilitiesNew City Critical facilities should not be located in 100‐year floodplains, in areas of high or extreme wildland fire hazard, on sites subject to liquefaction or landslide (as distinguished from areas with potential for these hazards), atop earthquake faults or withing State‐designated special studies zones, or where prohibited by the Amended and Restated San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) Land Use Plan (ALUP). Where city operated critical facilities are located in these high hazard areas, they shall be flood protected and the city will identify, and when feasible, implement, mitigation strategies to limit the impacts of associated hazards. The following facilities operated by entities other than the City, which are necessary for community function and emergency response, should not be located in 100‐year floodplains, in areas of high or extreme wildland fire hazard, on sites subject to liquefaction or landslide [as distinguished from areas with potential for these hazards], atop earthquake faults or within Statedesignated special studies zones, or where prohibited by the Amended and Restated SBPALUP: • hospitals; • Caltrans and utilities corporation yards; • principal electrical substations; • principal natural gas transmission mains and pumping stations; • principal public‐utility telecommunications and emergency broadcast facilities; • resilience hubs and community centers

9.0 Hazardous Trees Minimize danger to people and property from trees that are weakened and susceptible to falling or limb loss during storms.

City Operations
Modified Program MH‐1.7 Climate
Smart Natural Resource Management
Program MH‐1.7 Climate Smart Natural Resource Management ‐ The City shall integrate climate projections and adaptation projects (e.g., clearing or removal ofdead material and replanting with more resilient shrubs and trees) regarding changes in averagetemperatures, extreme heat, flooding, fire, drought, etc. into updates of the City’s naturalresource planning documents as they occur, including, but not limited to:
• Open Space Conservation Plans• Conservation Guidelines for Open Space Lands of the City of San Luis Obispo• Waterway Management Plan.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

10.0 A Avoiding and Mitigating Hazards [reworded from the Open SpaceElement] Development, including access and utility systems, shall be directed away from hazardous areas, which should be designated for appropriate open space or park uses.

City Operations
Substantially Changed; Expanded
Policy OP‐7.5: Mitigating Hazards from New Development
New development with sensitive land uses shall be buffered from stationary sources and mitigated from non‐stationary sources of pollution. Development, including access and utility systems, shall be directed away from hazardous areas as described in the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Where development, including access and utility systems, cannot avoid hazardous areas, the development shall adequately mitigate the hazards and provide that the City and all relevant City departments have adequate planning, organization, and resources for emergency preparedness and emergency response. Hazard mitigation measures shall not significantly impact the environment, including wildlife habitats. Development shall pay an equitable share of the costs to mitigate area wide hazards. Hazard mitigation measures shall not burden taxpayers with high maintenance costs. Development shall not increase hazards for other properties in the area.

10.0 B Where development, including access and utility systems, cannot avoid hazardous areas, the development shall adequately mitigate the hazards.

City Operations
Substantially Changed; Expanded
Policy OP‐7.5: Mitigating Hazards from New Development

9.1 Hazardous Trees The City will identify, and maintain or remove, trees on City property to minimize hazards, and will work with property owners to do the same.

City Operations
Modified Program HE‐4.5: Climate‐
Smart Urban Tree Canopy; Program FI‐5.13: Implement the Vegetation Management Plan Program HE‐4.5: Climate‐Smart Urban Tree CanopyConduct analysis and incorporate climate change considerations into the City’s CommunityForest Plan and update the City’s Street Trees Master List to prepare for increases in minimum and maximum temperatures and extreme heat events and corresponding drought and fire risk,identifying which trees will be most vulnerable to climate impacts and which species will thrive during future increases in temperature. Ensure that the updated Street Trees Master List does not include high water use trees or highly combustible trees. Emphasize the planting and care of appropriate climate‐ready trees in locations where they will have the greatest chances of success in environmental conditions that are predicted to become more challenging (i.e., “right tree, right place”). Communicate the results of the analysis to help community members prepare for impacts on trees on private property.

Give high priority to water conservation in all urban forest‐related actions. This could include species selection, irrigation method and time‐of‐day recommendations, mulching, co‐location with natural drainages and stormwater runoff, etc.Lumber from removed trees should be used in ways that store carbon indefinitely instead ofreleasing it back into the atmosphere, and these uses should be publicized to build awarenessand support for climate action.  Program FI‐5.13: Implement the Vegetation Management Plan Continue to implement the City’s Vegetation Management Plan, conducting fuel reductionprojects at the 12 large open space lands included in the plan, using vegetation managementtechniques appropriate for each open space including manual vegetation removal; tree removal; mechanical treatment, prescribed burning, livestock grazing, and chemical treatment. Update the Vegetation Management Plan, as needed, to incorporate regulations regarding new best practices, and new funding opportunities for vegetation management projects.Meet with the yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini (Northern Chumash Tribe San Luis Obispo County and Region (ytt Tribe)), Northern Chumash Tribal Council, and other tribal bodies on an annual basis, or as needed to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge approaches to vegetationmanagement in the City where appropriate.Work with private property owners, San Luis Obispo County, and Caltrans to conduct roadsidevegetation clearance along public and private roadways in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the city. Ensure that fuel reductions provide an appropriate fuel buffer for evacuees should these roadways become congested during an emergency incident.Develop an Urban Creek Vegetation Management Plan as part of the Waterway ManagementPlan update. The plan shall set forth a holistic vision to address excessive and noxious vegetation and dead material in the creeks and waterways in San Luis Obispo and surroundingareas. Work with private property owners and San Luis Obispo County to review and conductvegetation management to ensure dead trees and vegetation are reduced to prevent fire fromspreading to adjacent lands.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

10.0 C Hazard mitigation measures shall not significantly impact the environment, including wildlife habitats and views.

City Operations
Substantially Changed; Expanded
Policy OP‐7.5: Mitigating Hazards from New Development

10.0 D Development shall pay an equitable share of the costs to mitigate area wide hazards.

City Operations
Substantially Changed; Expanded
Policy OP‐7.5: Mitigating Hazards from New Development

10.0 E Hazard mitigation measures shall not burden taxpayers with high maintenance costs.

City Operations
Substantially Changed; Expanded
Policy OP‐7.5: Mitigating Hazards from New Development

10.0 F Development shall not increase hazards for other properties in the area. City Operations
Substantially Changed; Expanded
Policy OP‐7.5: Mitigating Hazards from New Development

10.1 Emergency Preparedness and Response
There should be adequate planning, organization, and resources for emergency preparedness and emergency response.

City Operations
Substantially Changed; Expanded
Policy OP‐7.1: Emergency Preparedness and Response
Ensure the City and all relevant City departments have adequate planning, organization, and resources for emergency preparedness and emergency response. The following response‐time programs are intended to apply to recurrent types of emergencies, not rare, area wide disasters: A. The Fire Department has set a response‐time objective of four minutes. (The Fire Department’s Master Plan recommends that a three‐person engine company, with paramedic, meet this standard 90 percent of the time). B. The Police Department has set a one‐third (33%) available‐time objective for patrol response. (“Available time” is the fraction of total time that a patrol unit is not previously assigned or otherwise unavailable for response to a new emergency call for service.) The presence of available time during a shift allows Officers to perform proactive policing methods to deter and prevent crime, rather than responding to crime once reported.

10.2 City Activities The City’s Disaster Preparedness Committee will be responsible for planning and coordinating City preparedness activities. (This committee is comprised of the Fire Chief and representatives of the police, public works, utilities, and administration departments.) With direction from the Disaster Preparedness Committee, the Fire Chief will maintain and annually update a basic plan for emergency response.

City Operations
Removed

10.3 A Response Performance Standards
The City will evaluate fire‐flow capacities and identify deficiencies through testing and modeling of the water system. For identified deficiencies, the Utilities Department will propose remedies to meet recommended service levels based on Insurance Service Organization ratings and other objective criteria.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.13: Water
System Response Performance Standards
The City will evaluate fire‐flow capacities and identify deficiencies through testing and modeling of the public water system. For identified deficiencies, the Utilities and Fire Departments will propose remedies to meet recommended service levels based American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards and Fire Code regulations.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

10.3 A Development should be permitted only if it is consistent with the San Luis Obispo County Airport Land Use Plan. Prospective buyers ofproperty that is subject to airport influence should be so informed.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.12 Program OP‐7.12: Critical Facilities Locations The following City facilities are necessary for community function and emergency response:
• fire stations; • police main station; • water treatment plant; • raw water storage reservoirs/lakes; • wastewater treatment plant; • public works and utilities corporation yards; • principal telecommunications facilitiesNew City Critical facilities should not be located in 100‐year floodplains, in areas of high or extreme wildland fire hazard, on sites subject to liquefaction or landslide (as distinguished from areas with potential for these hazards), atop earthquake faults or withing State‐designated special studies zones, or where prohibited by the Amended and Restated San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) Land Use Plan (ALUP). Where city operated critical facilities are located in these high hazard areas, they shall be flood protected and the city will identify, and when feasible, implement, mitigation strategies to limit the impacts of associated hazards. The following facilities operated by entities other than the City, which are necessary for community function and emergency response, should not be located in 100‐year floodplains, in areas of high or extreme wildland fire hazard, on sites subject to liquefaction or landslide [as distinguished from areas with potential for these hazards], atop earthquake faults or within Statedesignated special studies zones, or where prohibited by the Amended and Restated SBPALUP: • hospitals; • Caltrans and utilities corporation yards; • principal electrical substations; • principal natural gas transmission mains and pumping stations; • principal public‐utility telecommunications and emergency broadcast facilities; • resilience hubs and community centers

10.3 B The Police Department has set a 30‐percent available‐time objective for patrol response. (“Available time” is the fraction of total time that a patrol unit is not previously assigned or otherwise unavailable for response to a new emergency call for service.)
City Operations
Modified Policy OP‐7.1:

Emergency Preparedness and Response

10.3 C The Public Works Department and the Utilities Department will set responsetime objectives, based on the values at risk and acceptable levels of risk, and will work to achieve the objectives. (Typical incidents requiring timely response are water main breaks and large trees down in the street.) City Operations
Removed

10.4 A Staff Training The City will train fire fighters, police officers, building inspectors, and public works and utilities staff to levels appropriate for their tasks and responsibilities.

City Operations
Expanded Program OP‐7.18: Staff
Training
The City will train fire fighters, police officers, building inspectors, and public works and utilities staff to levels appropriate for their tasks and responsibilities. The City will provide training for those of its staff who apply its building regulations and planning standards, emphasizing the lessons learned in locations that have experienced disasters. The City will conduct disasterresponse exercises for the types of non‐ nuclear disasters discussed in this element, coordinated with participation in required, periodic nuclear‐disaster response training exercises. All public employees in the State of California are considered Disaster Service Workers (DSW) and as such the City will train all employees to ensure basic understanding of DSW responsibilities, the State Emergency Management System, National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System.

10.4 B The City will provide training for those of its staff who apply its building regulations and planning standards, emphasizing the lessons learned in locations that have experienced disasters.

City
Operations
Expanded Program OP‐7.18: Staff
Training

10.4 C The City will conduct disaster‐response exercises for the types of non‐ nuclear disasters discussed in this element, coordinated with participation in required, periodic nuclear‐disaster response training exercises.

City Operations
Expanded Program OP‐7.18: Staff
Training

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

10.6 A Coordinated Emergency Planning
The City will work within the Standardized Emergency ManagementSystem, an emergency response and coordination system used throughout California. The City will participate in periodic disaster‐response drills, on a regional basis with all involved jurisdictions and involving the news media.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.15:

Coordinated Emergency Planning
The City will work within the Standardized Emergency Management System, an emergency response and coordination system used throughout California, the National Incident Management System, and the National Response Framework. The City will participate in periodic disaster‐response drills, on a regional basis with all involved jurisdictions and involving the news media. The City will review the SB99 Analysis, the hazard assessment studies and emergency response plans of utilities and of transportation agencies and companies operating in the San Luis Obispo area, and update the City’s Emergency Plan, including evacuation routes, as necessary. The City will work with Caltrans to assure transport of hazardous materials follows Caltransapproved routes, with all necessary safety precautions taken to prevent hazardous materials spills. The City will train fire fighters, police officers, building inspectors, and public works.

10.6 B The City will review the hazard assessment studies and emergency response plans of utilities and of transportation agencies and companies operating in the San Luis Obispo area, and update the City’s Emergency Plan, including evacuation routes, as necessary.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.15:

Coordinated Emergency Planning

10.6 C The City will work with Caltrans to assure transport of hazardous materials follows Caltrans‐approved routes, with all necessary safety precautions taken to prevent hazardous materials spills.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.15:

Coordinated Emergency Planning
Policy OP‐7.4: Minimizing Hazardous Materials Exposure
The City shall minimize people’s exposure to hazardous substances through ensuring businesses that use, store, or transport hazardous materials to take adequate measures toprotect public health and safety. Policy OP‐7.5: Mitigating Hazards from New Development New development with sensitive land uses shall be buffered from stationary sources and mitigated from non‐stationary sources of pollution. Development, including access and utilitysystems, shall be directed away from hazardous areas as described in the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Where development, including access and utility systems, cannot avoid hazardous areas,the development shall adequately mitigate the hazards and provide that the City and all relevant City departments have adequate planning, organization, and resources for emergencypreparedness and emergency response. Hazard mitigation measures shall not significantlyimpact the environment, including wildlife habitats. Development shall pay an equitable share of the costs to mitigate area wide hazards. Hazard mitigation measures shall not burden taxpayers with high maintenance costs. Development shall not increase hazards for other properties in the area.

Policy OP‐7.6: Hazardous Materials in City OperationsThe City shall avoid using hazardous materials in its own operations to the greatest extent practical, and will follow all established health and safety practices when they are used. When managing pests and invasive plants, the City should use Integrated Pest Management practices and avoid the use of chemical insecticides and herbicides to the greatest extent practical.  Program OP‐

7.17: Development Review and InspectionsThe City will maintain and administer its Zoning and Subdivision Regulations and Community Design Guidelines in conformance with the General Plan. The standards and guidelines will be consistent with the requirements and recommendations of City police and fire departments.A. City fire, police, public works, and utilities personnel will review applications forsubdivisions and development projects, for consistency with safety objectives.

B. The City will maintain and administer its building and fire regulations in conformance withState requirements, including adoption of updated editions of uniform codes.C. The City will conduct safety inspections for fire and hazardous materials in commercial,industrial, and multifamily residential buildings.

10.5  Specific Emergency‐Response Information
The City will obtain information about the specific location and type of fire and toxics hazards and values at risk, and use the information in its preparedness and response actions.

City Operations
Expanded Policy OP‐7.4
Minimizing Hazardous Materials Exposure Program; Policy OP‐7.5: Mitigating Hazards from New Development;  Policy OP‐7.6: Hazardous Materials in City Operations; Program OP‐7.17: Development Review and Inspections

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

10.7 Program: Emergency Operations Center
The City will maintain an Emergency Operations Center Plan, to prescribe the intended activation and operation of a single facility from which disaster response will be managed. The Headquarters Fire Station will serve as the Emergency Operations Center, with the Corporation Yard and the Police Station serving as back‐up emergency operations centers or as department operating centers.

City Operations
Expanded Program OP‐7.10:

Emergency Operations Center
The City will maintain an Emergency Operations Center Plan, to prescribe the intended activation and operation of a single facility from which disaster response and essential city services will be supported. Fire Station 1 will serve as the Emergency Operations Center, with the Ludwick Center serving as the back‐ up emergency operations center. The Corporation Yard and the Police Station serving as department operating centers or tertiary back‐up emergency operation centers if the primary and back‐up locations are not viable. The primary Emergency Operations Center will transfer to the new Public Safety Center located at the existing Police Headquarters when construction is complete, and occupancy is permitted, at which time, the Fire Department will become the back‐up EOC. The City will maintain back‐up power sources for the primary and secondary EOC. If a permanent back‐up power source is not feasible, the City will maintain portable back‐up power sources.

10.9 City Emergency Plan
The City will keep current and implement its Multihazard Emergency Response Plans, as required by the California Emergency Services Act, with the objectives of: Saving lives and protecting property; Providing a basis for direction and control of emergency operations; Assuring the continuity of government; Repairing and restoring essential systems and services (such as water supplies); Providing for the protection, use, and distribution of resources that are available immediately after  a disaster; Making the City as self‐reliant as possible following a major disaster; Coordinating operations with other local jurisdictions City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.15:

Coordinated Emergency Planning
The City will work within the Standardized Emergency Management System, an emergencyresponse and coordination system used throughout California, the National IncidentManagement System, and the National Response Framework. The City will participate inperiodic disaster‐response drills, on a regional basis with all involved jurisdictions and involving the news media.The City will review the SB99 Analysis, the hazard assessment studies and emergency responseplans of utilities and of transportation agencies and companies operating in the San Luis Obispo area, and update the City’s Emergency Plan, including evacuation routes, as necessary.The City will work with Caltrans to assure transport of hazardous materials follows Caltransapproved routes, with all necessary safety precautions taken to prevent hazardous materials spills. The City will train fire fighters, police officers, building inspectors, and public works.

10.8 Information and Planning Updates
Working with other agencies in the area, the City will expand and keep current safety‐related information. The City will use sufficiently detailed analysis of hazards, and will update the City’s safety and emergency plans as new information becomes available.

City Operations
Expanded Policy MH‐1.4: Regional
Collaboration for Climate Adaptation; Program MH‐1.11: Regional Collaboration and Community Resilience Ambassadors; Policy FL‐3.6: Regional Coordination for Flood Control; Program OP‐7.15: Coordinated Emergency Planning Policy MH‐1.4: Regional Collaboration for Climate Adaptation. The City shall integrate regional collaboration as a key component of the City’s climate adaptation planning strategy, recognizing the regional nature of climate impacts and climate adaptation strategies. Program MH‐1.11: Regional Collaboration and Community Resilience Ambassadors Develop consistent communications and participate with key community partners including: 1) communicate and provide updates on adaptation strategy implementation to the general public and key partners including San Luis Obispo County, other incorporated cities in the County, and community organizations; 2) continue the City’s active participation in the Central Coast Climate Collaborative (4C) by sharing lessons learned, strategy collaboration opportunities, and regionally relevant data included in the Climate Change Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report (Appendix A); 3) identify members of the City’s Green Team to serve as city liaisons for regional adaptation‐focused organizations and key regional climate adaptation planning efforts; 4) work with community organizations and other institutions to establish a network of Community Resilience Ambassadors who can support outreach efforts, educate residents on climate preparedness, and connect residents to existing resources and organizations. Policy FL‐3.6: Regional Coordination for Flood Control. The City shall continue to coordinate with regional partners (e.g., San Luis Obispo County, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Caltrans, LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency) on flood preparedness and flood management initiatives.Program OP‐7.15: Coordinated Emergency Planning. The City will work within the Standardized Emergency Management System, an emergency response and coordination system used throughout California, the National Incident Management System, and the National Response Framework. The City will participate in periodic disaster‐response drills, on a regional basis with all involved jurisdictions and involving the news media. The City will review the SB99 Analysis, the hazard assessment studies and emergency response plans of utilities and of transportation agencies and companies operating in the San Luis Obispo area, and update the City’s Emergency Plan, including evacuation routes, as necessary. The City will work with Caltrans to assure transport of hazardous materials follows Caltransapproved routes, with all necessary safety precautions taken to prevent hazardous materials spills. The City will train fire fighters, police officers, building inspectors, and public works.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

10.10 Mutual and Automatic Aid
The City will work with other jurisdictions to obtain and follow adequate mutual‐aid and automatic‐aid agreements.

City Operations
Modified OP‐7.15  Coordinated
Emergency Planning
The City will work within the Standardized Emergency Management System, an emergency response and coordination system used throughout California, the National IncidentManagement System, and the National Response Framework. The City will participate in periodic disaster‐response drills, on a regional basis with all involved jurisdictions and involving the news media.The City will review the SB99 Analysis, the hazard assessment studies and emergency responseplans of utilities and of transportation agencies and companies operating in the San Luis Obispo area, and update the City’s Emergency Plan, including evacuation routes, as necessary.The City will work with Caltrans to assure transport of hazardous materials follows Caltransapproved routes, with all necessary safety precautions taken to prevent hazardous materials spills. The City will train fire fighters, police officers, building inspectors, and public works.

10.11 Disaster Recovery
The City will prepare for post‐disaster recovery, including measures to address: Prompt assessment of the condition of buildings and utilities; Temporary shelter for displaced residents, including the potential for sites on parks or other public land; Temporary facilities for non‐critical public services; Recovery of inventory and records from damagedcommercial buildings; Temporary facilities for displaced businesses and not‐for‐profit organizations; Removal, reconstruction, or replacement of unsafe buildings, including historically or architecturally significant buildings; High volumes of planning and building applications; High demand for public capital improvement spending to replace damaged facilities or to take advantage of opportunities to implement longer‐ range plans.

City Operations
Modified Policy MH‐1.3: Post‐
Disaster Recovery Resources; Program MH‐1.10: Post‐Disaster Recovery Resources and Education; Program EJ‐2.6: Establish Community Resilience Fund Policy MH‐1.3: Post‐Disaster Recovery ResourcesThe City shall expand equitable access to post‐disaster recovery resources for residents andbusinesses (e.g., recovery funding, recovery services) including debris management. Program MH‐1.10:

Post‐Disaster Recovery Resources and EducationWork with community organizations, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services, and other key stakeholders to: 1)assess effectiveness in post‐disaster recovery efforts including establishing metrics to ensure that post‐disaster recovery resources are allocated equitably; 2) Assess potential barriers for rehabilitation and rebuilding in post‐disaster situations and develop protocols to remove barriers; and 3) educate individuals and households about strategies to increase preparedness for emergency events and climate‐related impacts. Use information from the City’s Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report (Appendix A) to identify areas in the City with vulnerable populations (e.g., linguistically isolated households, elderly, youth, homeless, individuals with chronic health conditions) to conduct targeted outreach to these neighborhoods and areas in the City. Strategies could include: • Creating emergency kits emergency supply kits for homes, cars, and at work locations; • Creating personal emergency funds for short‐ and long‐term emergency events; • Implementing household hazard mitigation projects such as defensible space, home hardening, earthquake retrofitting, and home insulating to improve ability to inhabit home during and post emergency event or climate‐related impact; • Information on mental health and support services for post‐disaster recovery; Program EJ‐2.6:

Establish Community Resilience Fund Develop funding mechanisms through the State’s Integrated Climate and Resiliency Program and develop criteria to administer a Community Resilience Fund that provides grants to individuals or community organizations to implement projects that support social cohesion as it relates to public safety, climate change impacts, and disaster recovery. Criteria would be developed to evaluate applications and prioritize the allocation of funding to projects that focus on protecting the most vulnerable populations (i.e., low‐income, minority, or elderly populations).

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

10.12 A Critical Facilities Locations
The following City facilities that are necessary for community function and emergency response will not be located in 100‐year floodplains, in areas of high or extreme wildland fire hazard, on sites subject to liquefaction or landslide [as distinguished from areas with potential for these hazards], atop earthquake faults or within State‐designated special studies zones, or in airport inner safety zones or outer safety zones: fire stations; police main station; water treatment plant ; wastewater treatment plant; public works and utilities corporation yards; principal telecommunications facilities City Operations
Substantially Changed; Expanded
Program OP‐7.12: Critical Facilities Locations
The following City facilities are necessary for community function and emergency response: • fire stations • police main station • water treatment plant • raw water storage reservoirs/lakes • wastewater treatment plant • public works and utilities corporation yards • principal telecommunications facilities New City Critical facilities should not be located in 100‐year floodplains, in areas of high or extreme wildland fire hazard, on sites subject to liquefaction or landslide (as distinguished from areas with potential for these hazards), atop earthquake faults or withing State‐designated special studies zones, or where prohibited by the Amended and Restated San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) Land Use Plan (ALUP). Where city operated critical facilities are located in these high hazard areas, they shall be flood protected and the city will identify, and when feasible, implement, mitigation strategies to limit the impacts of associated hazards. The following facilities operated by entities other than the City, which are necessary for community function and emergency response, should not be located in 100‐year floodplains, in areas of high or extreme wildland fire hazard, on sites subject to liquefaction or landslide [as distinguished from areas with potential for these hazards], atop earthquake faults or within Statedesignated special studies zones, or where prohibited by the Amended and Restated SBP ALUP: • hospitals • Caltrans and utilities corporation yards • principal electrical substations • principal natural gas transmission mains and pumping stations • principal public‐utility telecommunications and emergency broadcast facilities • resilience hubs and community centers

10.12 B The following facilities operated by entities other than the City, which are necessary for community function and emergency response, should not be located in 100‐year floodplains, in areas of high or extreme wildland fire hazard, on sites subject to liquefaction or landslide [as distinguished from areas with potential for these hazards], atop earthquake faults or within State‐designated special studies zones, or in airport inner safety zones or outer safety zones: hospitals; Caltrans and utilities corporation yards; principal electrical substations; principal natural gas transmission mains and pumping stations; principal public‐ utility telecommunications and emergency broadcast facilities.

City Operations
Substantially Changed; Expanded
Program OP‐7.12: Critical Facilities Locations

10.13 Emergency Access and Evacuation
Substantial development will be allowed only where multiple routes of road access can be provided, consistent with other General Plan policies on development location and open space protection. “Substantialdevelopment” means industrial, commercial, and institutional uses, multifamily housing, and more than ten single‐family dwellings. ”Multiple routes” include vehicle connections that provide emergency access only, as well as public and private streets.

City Operations
Unchanged Policy OP‐7.3:

Emergency Access and Evacuation
Substantial development will be allowed only where multiple routes of road access can be provided, consistent with other General Plan policies on development location and open space protection and community risk reduction. “Substantial development” means industrial, commercial, and institutional uses, multifamily housing, and single‐family dwellings in accordance with adopted fire code. “Multiple routes” include vehicle connections that provide emergency access only, as well as public and private streets.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Expanded Policies FL‐3.4 Flooding
and Post‐Wildfire Debris Flow; FI‐5.11 Proactive Communications of Fire Risks and Prevention AND  Programs: MH‐1.10 Post‐Disaster Recovery Resources and Education; EJ‐2.4 Ensure Public Engagement Noticing Manual Advances Procedural Equity; FL‐3.11 Flood‐Prepared Neighbhorhoods Program; FL‐3.12 Community‐Driven Flood Education; HE‐4.8 Extreme Heat and Emergency Preparedness; HE‐4.9 Equitable Community Outreach for Extremem Heat;  FI‐5.16 Resident Information and Training of Fire Hazards; FI‐5.17 Wildfire Smoke h
Policy FL‐3.4: Flooding and Post‐Wildfire Debris Flow. The City shall conduct a detailed assessment to identify key impact areas in the city from a post‐wildfire debris flow scenario and the implications this scenario would have on stormwater runoff during larger storm events. Develop a set of pre‐disaster mitigation measures to be implemented to help mitigate impacts from postwildfire debris flow events. Mitigation measures could include: • rapid reforestation and stabilization of wildfire‐affected areas susceptible to debris flow runoff to stabilize soils; • communication and coordination with residents and businesses located within potential; impact areas from post‐wildfire debris flow events; and; • development of analysis techniques to predict debris flow events based on rainfall and moisture conditions. Policy FI‐5.11: Proactive Communications on Fire Risks and Prevention The City shall proactively communicate with the public about fire risks and prevention, including information about: • wildfire smoke health impacts and available mitigation strategies; • The “Ready, Set, Go!” wildfire preparedness program including defensible space, home hardening, personal wildfire action planning, and evacuation actions; • Public safety power shutoffs associated with high fire danger.; Program MH‐1.10: Post‐Disaster Recovery Resources and Education Work with community organizations, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services, and other key stakeholders to: 1)assess effectiveness in post‐disaster recovery efforts including establishing metrics to ensure that post‐disaster recovery resources are allocated equitably; 2) Assess potential barriers for rehabilitation and rebuilding in post‐disaster situations and develop protocols to remove barriers; and 3) educate individuals and households about strategies to increase preparedness for emergency events and climate‐related impacts. Use information from the City’s Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report (Appendix A) to identify areas in the City with vulnerable populations (e.g., linguistically isolated households, elderly, youth, homeless, individuals with chronic health conditions) to conduct targeted outreach to these neighborhoods and areas in the City. Strategies could include: • Creating emergency kits emergency supply kits for homes, cars, and at work locations; • Creating personal emergency funds for short‐ and long‐term emergency events; • Implementing household hazard mitigation projects such as defensible space, home hardening, earthquake retrofitting, and home insulating to improve ability to inhabit home during and post emergency event or climate‐related impact; • Information on mental health and support services for post‐disaster recovery; Program EJ‐2.4: Ensure Public Engagement Noticing Manual Advances Procedural Equity Maintain the Public Engagement Noticing Manual (PEN Manual) as the guiding framework for all departments to participate in meaningful two‐way communication with the public on all aspects of County governance and delivery of services. Community outreach and education opportunities should include multi‐lingual options for both written materials and in‐person engagement. The events should also include demographic surveys as part of community outreach events to ensure that participants are representative of the demographic makeup (e.g., race, age, ethnicity) of the city’s population as a whole. The City shall provide opportunities for community organizations and other stakeholders to review strategy details before implementation.  Program FL‐3.11: Flood‐Prepared Neighborhoods Program Work with the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services, community organizations, and regional partners to develop neighborhood readiness plans for areas of the city that are at current and future risk from flooding events. The City should prioritize planning efforts in neighborhoods that are the most vulnerable, and ensure additional supports are available for community members to participate in the planning process and invest in flood resilience.Program FL‐3.12: Community‐Driven Flood Education. Continue to work with the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services to provide accurate and readily available flood risk information through the County Ready SLO and City Prepare SLO websites and resources and integrate future flood risk and climate‐related flood impacts into County Ready SLO and City Prepare SLO materials. Creative community‐driven flood risk and resilience workshops should be developed to build awareness with hard‐to‐reach populations and high‐risk neighborhoods. These workshops could occur through collaboration with the County of San Luis Obispo Zone 9 Flood Control and Watershed Protection District. Program HE‐4.8: Extreme Heat and Emergency Preparedness. As part of the next update of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan, incorporate a protocol for emergency operations during extreme heat events in the city. Identify extreme heat thresholds which, if exceeded, would trigger the opening of cooling centers in the city as well as emergency response efforts from appropriate City departments City Operations
Citizens should be well informed of hazards and ways to minimize the effects of disasters. Special attention should be given to children, seniors, and handicapped.

10.14 Preparedness Education

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element cooling centers in the city as well as emergency response efforts from appropriate City departments (e.g., Police Department, Fire Department, Parks & Recreation). Coordinate emergency response efforts in Program HE‐4.9 regarding heatrelated community outreach with this strategy.Program HE‐4.9: Equitable Community Outreach For Extreme Heat. Use information from the Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report that identifies areas in the City with vulnerable populations (e.g., linguistically isolated households, elderly, youth, homeless, individuals with chronic health conditions) to conduct targeted outreach to these neighborhoods and areas in the City. Increase education and training opportunities for residents to prepare for extreme heat events, with a prioritization on participation from vulnerable populations and businesses and institutions that house and/or support vulnerable populations. Work with community organizations and the San Luis Obispo County Health Department to provide additional resources and training to staff working with elderly populations on how to prevent health‐related heat impacts (Paterson et al. 2014). Work with community organizations and schools to help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and heat wave events on youth. Educate and train staff working with youth populations on how to prevent health‐related impacts from extreme heat. Continually assess the effectiveness of the City’s public information and education efforts during heat wave events.  Program FI‐5.16: Resident Information and Training on Fire Hazards. The City will inform homeowners and tenants about local fire hazards, appropriate responses to fire, and ways to prevent loss, including home improvements that can reduce the impact of fire. The City will promote the efforts of the Fire Safe Council. The City will continue hosting community preparedness sessions and workshops as effective preparation resources for residents to aid themselves when needs exceed the availability of professional emergency response workers. The City will support education programs in the lower grades, using displays and demonstrations to inform young children about fire safety, and in secondary schools, demonstrating the dynamic aspects of fire, including major factors contributing to fire hazard and the relationship of fire to the natural ecology. Fire prevention and evacuation lessons will be included in each program.Program FI‐5.17: Wildfire Smoke Protection Outreach Strategy. Work with the San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District to ensure residents are educated on how to protect themselves and their homes from wildfire smoke impacts. Prioritize outreach campaigns to populations who are vulnerable to poor air quality and those who work with the population (e.g., elderly care nurses and assistances, teachers), conducting educational events at convenient locations for these residents. The outreach strategy should also focus on supporting employers to maintain compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5141.1, which applies to most outdoor workplaces where the current Air Quality Index (current AQI) for airborne particulate matter is 2.5 micrometers or smaller is 151 or greater, and where employers should reasonably anticipate that employees could be exposed to wildfire smoke. Compliance requirements and training instructions are included in California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5141.1.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

10.15 A Citizen Information and Training
The City will help inform homeowners about local fire hazards, appropriate responses to fire, and ways to prevent loss, including home improvements that can reduce the impact of fire.

City Operations
Modified Program FI‐5.16:

Resident Information and Training on Fire Hazards
The City will inform homeowners and tenants about local fire hazards, appropriate responses to fire, and ways to prevent loss, including home improvements that can reduce the impact of fire. The City will promote the efforts of the Fire Safe Council. The City will continue hosting community preparedness sessions and workshops as effective preparation resources for residents to aid themselves when needs exceed the availability of professional emergency response workers. The City will support education programs in the lower grades, using displays and demonstrations to inform young children about fire safety, and in secondary schools, demonstrating the dynamic aspects of fire, including major factors contributing to fire hazard and the relationship of fire to the natural ecology. Fire prevention and evacuation lessons will be included in each program.

10.15 B The City will promote the efforts of the Fire Safe Council. City Operations
Modified Program FI‐5.16:

Resident Information and Training on Fire Hazards

10.15 C The City will continue the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training as effective preparation for residents to aid themselves when needs exceed the availability of professional emergency response workers.

City Operations
Modified Program FI‐5.16:

Resident Information and Training on Fire Hazards

10.15 D The City will support education programs in the lower grades, using displays and demonstrations to inform young children about fire safety, and in secondary schools, demonstrating the dynamic aspects of fire, including major factors contributing to fire hazard and the relationship of fire to the natural ecology. Fire prevention and evacuation lessons will be included in each program.

City Operations
Modified Program FI‐5.16:

Resident Information and Training on Fire Hazards
Policy FI‐5.11: Proactive Communications on Fire Risks and PreventionThe City shall proactively communicate with the public about fire risks and prevention, including information about: • wildfire smoke health impacts and available mitigation strategies; • The “Ready, Set, Go!” wildfire preparedness program including defensible space, home hardening, personal wildfire action planning, and evacuation actions; • Public safety power shutoffs associated with high fire danger.; Program MH‐1.10: Post‐Disaster Recovery Resources and Education. Work with community organizations, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services, and other key stakeholders to: 1)assess effectiveness in post‐disaster recovery efforts including establishing metrics to ensure that post‐disaster recovery resources are allocated equitably; 2) Assess potential barriers for rehabilitation and rebuilding in post‐disaster situations and develop protocols to remove barriers; and 3) educate individuals and households about strategies to increase preparedness for emergency events and climate‐related impacts. Use information from the City’s Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report (Appendix A) to identify areas in the City with vulnerable populations (e.g., linguistically isolated households, elderly, youth, homeless, individuals with chronic health conditions) to conduct targeted outreach to these neighborhoods and areas in the City. Strategies could include: • Creating emergency kits emergency supply kits for homes, cars, and at work locations; • Creating personal emergency funds for short‐ and long‐term emergency events; • Implementing household hazard mitigation projects such as defensible space, home hardening, earthquake retrofitting, and home insulating to improve ability to inhabit home during and post emergency event or climate‐related impact; • Information on mental health and support services for post‐disaster recovery; Program EJ‐2.4: Ensure Public Engagement Noticing Manual Advances Procedural Equity Maintain the Public Engagement Noticing Manual (PEN Manual) as the guiding framework for all departments to participate in meaningful two‐way communication with the public on all aspects of County governance and delivery of services. Community outreach and education opportunities should include multi‐lingual options for both written materials and in‐person engagement. The events should also include demographic surveys as part of community outreach events to ensure that participants are representative of the demographic makeup (e.g., race, age, ethnicity) of the city’s population as a whole.

Th Cit h ll id t iti f it i ti d th t k h ld t i
Policy  FI‐5.11 Proactive Communications of Fire Risks and Prevention AND  Programs: MH‐1.10 Post‐Disaster Recovery Resources and Education; EJ‐2.4 Ensure Public Engagement Noticing Manual Advances Procedural Equity; FL‐3.11 Flood‐Prepared Neighbhorhoods Program; FL‐3.12 Community‐Driven Flood Education; HE‐4.8 Extreme Heat and Emergency Preparedness; HE‐4.9 Equitable Community Outreach for Extremem Heat;  FI‐5.16 Resident Information and Training of Fire Hazards; FI‐5.17 Wildfire Smoke Protection Outreach Strategy City  ExpandedOperations
The City will help organizations that provide emergency outreach and education programs in the area, will help schools teach children how to avoid dangers and how to behave during an emergency, and will encourage other organizations dealing with large groups (such as seniors and handicapped) to develop their own emergency education and response programs.

10.16 Other Organizations

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element The City shall provide opportunities for community organizations and other stakeholders to review strategy details before implementation.  Program FL‐3.11: Flood‐Prepared Neighborhoods Program Work with the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services, community organizations, and regional partners to develop neighborhood readiness plans for areas of the city that are at current and future risk from flooding events. The City should prioritize planning efforts in neighborhoods that are the most vulnerable, and ensure additional supports are available for community members to participate in the planning process and invest in flood resilience.Program FL‐3.12: Community‐Driven Flood Education. Continue to work with the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services to provide accurate and readily available flood risk information through the County Ready SLO and City Prepare SLO websites and resources and integrate future flood risk and climate‐related flood impacts into County Ready SLO and City Prepare SLO materials. Creative community‐driven flood risk and resilience workshops should be developed to build awareness with hard‐to‐reachpopulations and high‐risk neighborhoods. These workshops could occur through collaboration with the County of San Luis Obispo Zone 9 Flood Control and Watershed Protection District. Program HE‐4.8: Extreme Heat and Emergency PreparednessAs part of the next update of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan, incorporate a protocol for emergency operations during extreme heat events in the city. Identify extreme heat thresholds which, if exceeded, would trigger the opening of cooling centers in the city as well as emergency response efforts from appropriate City departments (e.g., Police Department, Fire Department, Parks & Recreation). Coordinate emergency response efforts in Program HE‐4.9 regarding heatrelated community outreach with this strategy.Program HE‐4.9: Equitable Community Outreach For Extreme Heat Use information from the Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report that identifies areas in the City with vulnerable populations (e.g., linguistically isolated households, elderly, youth, homeless, individuals with chronic health conditions) to conduct targeted outreach to these neighborhoodsand areas in the City. Increase education and training opportunities for residents to prepare for extreme heat events, with a prioritization on participation from vulnerable populations and businesses and institutions that house and/or support vulnerable populations. Work with community organizations and the San Luis Obispo County Health Department to provide additional resources and training to staff working with elderly populations on how to prevent health‐related heat impacts (Paterson et al. 2014). Work with community organizations and schools to help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and heat wave events on youth. Educate and train staff working with youth populations on how to prevent health‐related impacts from extreme heat. Continually assess the effectiveness of the City’s public information and education efforts during heat wave events.  Program FI‐5.16: Resident Information and Training on Fire Hazards. The City will inform homeowners and tenants about local fire hazards, appropriate responses tofire, and ways to prevent loss, including home improvements that can reduce the impact of fire. The City will promote the efforts of the Fire Safe Council. The City will continue hosting community preparedness sessions and workshops as effective preparation resources for residents to aid themselves when needs exceed the availability ofprofessional emergency response workers. The City will support education programs in the lower grades, using displays and demonstrations to inform young children about fire safety, and in secondary schools, demonstrating the dynamicaspects of fire, including major factors contributing to fire hazard and the relationship of fire to the natural ecology. Fire prevention and evacuation lessons will be included in each program.Program FI‐5.17: Wildfire Smoke Protection Outreach Strategy. Work with the San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District to ensure residents are educated on how to protect themselves and their homes from wildfire smoke impacts. Prioritize outreach campaigns to populations who are vulnerable to poor air quality and those who work with the population (e.g., elderly care nurses and assistances, teachers), conducting educational events at convenient locations for these residents.The outreach strategy should also focus on supporting employers to maintain compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5141.1, which applies to most outdoor workplaces where the current Air Quality Index (current AQI) for airborne particulate matter is 2.5 micrometers or smaller is 151 or greater, and where employers should reasonably anticipate that employees could be exposed to

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

10.17 Voluntary Inspections
The City will encourage and participate in programs to inspect individual houses, particularly those occupied by the elderly or handicapped, including encouraging occupants to check their own smoke detectors.

City Operations
Modified  Policy FI‐5.11: Proactive
Communications on Fire Risks and Prevention
Policy FI‐5.11: Proactive Communications on Fire Risks and PreventionThe City shall proactively communicate with the public about fire risks and prevention, including information about:• wildfire smoke health impacts and available mitigation strategies• The “Ready, Set, Go!” wildfire preparedness program including defensible space, homehardening, personal wildfire action planning, and evacuation actions.• Public safety power shutoffs associated with high fire danger.  Program OP‐7.17: Development Review and InspectionsThe City will maintain and administer its Zoning and Subdivision Regulations and Community Design Guidelines in conformance with the General Plan. The standards and guidelines will be consistent with the requirements and recommendations of City police and fire departments.A. City fire, police, public works, and utilities personnel will review applications for subdivisions and development projects, for consistency with safety objectives.

B. The City will maintain and administer its building and fire regulations in conformance with State requirements, including adoption of updated editions of uniform codes.

C. The City will conduct safety inspections for fire and hazardous materials in commercial, industrial, and multifamily residential buildings.

10.18 Safety of Structures and Facilities
Existing and new structures and facilities should reflect adopted safety standards.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.14:

Reducing Structural Hazards;  Program OP‐7.17: Development Review and Inspections Program OP‐7.14: Reducing Structural HazardsThe City will identify and evaluate hazards in existing structures and work toward reducing those hazards to acceptable levels of risk. The City will advocate that other organizations and agencies do the same.

Highest priority will be given to critical facilities (listed in Program OP‐7.12) and transportation facilities.

This overall effort has five basic components:A. The City’s continuing steps to evaluate, maintain, and replace its own facilities, inparticular bridges, public assembly rooms, fire stations, water tanks, and water andwastewater treatment plants.B. Routine inspections for code compliance in commercial, industrial, public‐assembly, group‐housing, and multifamily residential buildings.C. Complaint‐based inspections for code compliance in all buildings.

D. Implementation of the City‐adopted program to identify and mitigate hazards of unreinforced masonry buildings.E. Subject to adequate resources being provided through the budget process, outreach for private, woodframe buildings involving attachments to adequate foundations, cripple‐wall bracing, water‐heater attachment, and bracing or attachment of masonry chimneys. g , py y p py p
wildfire smoke. Compliance requirements and training instructions are included in California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5141.1.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element

10.19 Reducing Structural Hazards
The City will identify and evaluate hazards in existing structures and work toward reducing those hazards to acceptable levels of risk. The City will advocate that other organizations and agencies do the same. Highest priority will be given to critical facilities (listed in Policy 8.3) and transportation facilities.  This overall effort has five basic components:

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.14:

Reducing Structural Hazards
The City will identify and evaluate hazards in existing structures and work toward reducing those hazards to acceptable levels of risk. The City will advocate that other organizations and agencies do the same.

Highest priority will be given to critical facilities (listed in Program OP‐7.12) and transportation facilities.

This overall effort has five basic components: A. The City’s continuing steps to evaluate, maintain, and replace its own facilities, in particular bridges, public assembly rooms, fire stations, water tanks, and water and wastewater treatment plants. B. Routine inspections for code compliance in commercial, industrial, public‐assembly, group‐housing, and multifamily residential buildings. C. Complaint‐based inspections for code compliance in all buildings. D. Implementation of the City‐adopted program to identify and mitigate hazards of unreinforced masonry buildings. E. Subject to adequate resources being provided through the budget process, outreach for private, woodframe buildings involving attachments to adequate foundations, cripple‐wall bracing, water‐heater attachment, and bracing or attachment of masonry chimneys.

10.19 A The City’s continuing steps to evaluate, maintain, and replace its own facilities, in particular bridges, public assembly rooms, fire stations, water tanks, and water and wastewater treatment plants.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.14:

Reducing Structural Hazards

10.19 B Routine inspections for code compliance in commercial, industrial, public‐assembly, group‐housing, and multifamily residential buildings.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.14:

Reducing Structural Hazards

10.19 C Complaint‐based inspections for code compliance in all buildings.  City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.14:

Reducing Structural Hazards

10.19 D Implementation of the City‐adopted program to identify and mitigate hazards of unreinforced masonry buildings.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.14:

Reducing Structural Hazards

10.19 E Subject to adequate resources being provided through the budget process, outreach for private, wood‐frame buildings involving attachments to adequate foundations, cripple‐wall bracing, water‐heater attachment, and bracing or attachment of masonry chimneys.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.14:

Reducing Structural Hazards

10.20 Planning Standards
The City will maintain and administer its zoning and subdivision standards and architectural guidelines in conformance with the General Plan. The standards and guidelines will be consistent with the requirements and recommendations of City police and fire departments.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.17:

Development Review and Inspections
The City will maintain and administer its Zoning and Subdivision Regulations and Community Design Guidelines in conformance with the General Plan. The standards and guidelines will be consistent with the requirements and recommendations of City police and fire departments. A. City fire, police, public works, and utilities personnel will review applications for subdivisions and development projects, for consistency with safety objectives. B. The City will maintain and administer its building and fire regulations in conformance with State requirements, including adoption of updated editions of uniform codes. C. The City will conduct safety inspections for fire and hazardous materials in commercial, industrial, and multifamily residential buildings.

10.21 Development Review
City fire, police, public works, and utilities personnel will review applications for subdivisions and development projects, for consistency with safety objectives.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.17:

Development Review and Inspections

10.22 Building and Fire Regulations
The City will maintain and administer its building and fire regulations in conformance with State requirements, including adoption of updated editions of uniform codes.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.17:

Development Review and Inspections

10.23 Required Inspections
The City will conduct safety inspections for fire and hazardous materials in commercial, industrial, and multifamily residential buildings.

City Operations
Modified Program OP‐7.17:

Development Review and Inspections
New Policies & Programs (CASE)

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Policy MH‐1.1: Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Policies The policies and programs included in the Climate Adaptation and Safety Element are critical to maintaining community safety and to supporting disaster preparedness.

Policy MH‐1.2: Climate‐Informed Capital Improvement Program, Engineering Standards and Natural Resources Management The City shall incorporate climate projection data, risk modeling, and adaptive management, as appropriate, to account for future changes in key climate variables (e.g., changes in precipitation and flooding behavior, fire and smoke risk, maximum daily temperatures) in the City’s Capital Improvement Program, Engineering Specifications and Standards, and natural resource projects and planning documents.

Policy MH‐1.3: Post‐Disaster Recovery Resources
The City shall expand equitable access to post‐disaster recovery resources for residents and businesses (e.g., recovery funding, recovery services) including debris management.

Policy MH‐1.4: Regional Collaboration for Climate Adaptation The City shall integrate regional collaboration as a key component of the City’s climate adaptation planning strategy, recognizing the regional nature of climate impacts and climate adaptation strategies.

Program MH‐1.5: Update the City’s Capital Improvement Program to Incorporate Climate Projections Assess existing public infrastructure systems vulnerable to changes in key climate variables (e.g., flooding, extreme heat) and incorporate upgrades to critical infrastructure in the City’s Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) planning process. Identify key pieces of existing public infrastructure that are likely to be compromised by climate impacts and prioritize these upgrades as part of the City CIP process. Use data from the Climate Change Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report, the Cal‐Adapt tool, and supplemental climate projection data and research to inform an appropriate list of public infrastructure upgrades.

Program MH‐1.6: Update City’s Engineering Standards and Specifications to Incorporate Climate Projections The City shall evaluate and update the City’s building and engineering standards and specification to account for future changes in key climate variables (e.g., changes in the size of large storm events, maximum daily temperatures) that are likely to affect critical public infrastructure. Use data from the Climate Change Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report, the CalAdapt tool, and supplemental climate projection data and research to inform the updates to the City’s standards update process. Use a climate‐informed adaptive management approach tocontinually monitor the performance of the updated building and engineering standards againstthe observed changes in climate variables, adjusting standards as need to match future changesin these variables caused by climate change.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program MH‐1.7: Climate Smart Natural Resource Management The City shall integrate climate projections and adaptation projects (e.g., clearing or removal of dead material and replanting with more resilient shrubs and trees) regarding changes in average temperatures, extreme heat, flooding, fire, drought, etc. into updates of the City’s natural resource planning documents as they occur, including, but not limited to: • Open Space Conservation Plans • Conservation Guidelines for Open Space Lands of the City of San Luis Obispo • Waterway Management Plan.

Program MH‐1.8: Climate Resilience Hubs
Work with community organizations, faith‐based organizations, and other institutions to develop a network of conveniently located Climate Resilience Hubs including a mix of public facilities, community centers, businesses, and community‐oriented facilities (e.g., churches, synagogues, mosques). Ensure the chosen facilities are equipped to provide aid to vulnerable populations during other emergency events such as periods of poor air quality from wildfire smoke, utility disruptions, flooding events, or other climate‐related hazards (CDC n.d.). Ensure the Climate Resilience Center is centrally located and accessible.

Program MH‐1.9: Post‐Disaster Recovery Debris Management Prepare and update solid waste agreement(s) addressing post disaster debris management activities including clearing, collection, removal, and disposal.

Program MH‐1.10: Post‐Disaster Recovery Resources and Education; Work with community organizations, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services, and other key stakeholders to: 1)assess effectiveness in post‐disaster recovery efforts including establishing metrics to ensure that post‐disaster recovery resources are allocated equitably; 2) Assess potential barriers for rehabilitation and rebuilding in post‐disaster situations and develop protocols to remove barriers; and 3) educate individuals and households about strategies to increase preparedness for emergency events and climate‐related impacts. Use information from the City’s Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report (Appendix A) to identify areas in the City with vulnerable populations (e.g., linguistically isolated households, elderly, youth, homeless, individuals with chronic health conditions) to conduct targeted outreach to these neighborhoods and areas in the City. Strategies could include: • Creating emergency kits emergency supply kits for homes, cars, and at work locations • Creating personal emergency funds for short‐ and long‐ term emergency events • Implementing household hazard mitigation projects such as defensible space, home hardening, earthquake retrofitting, and home insulating to improve ability to inhabit home during and post emergency event or climate‐related impact. • Information on mental health and support services for post‐disaster recovery

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program MH‐1.11: Regional Collaboration and Community Resilience Ambassadors Develop consistent communications and participate with key community partners including: 1) communicate and provide updates on adaptation strategy implementation to the general public and key partners including San Luis Obispo County, other incorporated cities in the County, and community organizations; 2) continue the City’s active participation in the Central Coast Climate Collaborative (4C) by sharing lessons learned, strategy collaboration opportunities, and regionally relevant data included in the Climate Change Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report (Appendix A); 3) identify members of the City’s Green Team to serve as city liaisons for regional adaptation‐focused organizations and key regional climate adaptation planning efforts; 4) work with community organizations and other institutions to establish a network of Community Resilience Ambassadors who can support outreach efforts, educate residents on climate preparedness, and connect residents to existing resources and organizations.

Policy EJ‐2.1: Equity and Justice in All Policies and Programs The City shall ensure that the implementation of the Climate Adaptation and Safety Element prioritizes equity and justice and addresses the community’s greatest needs, including the needs of persons living in poverty, older adults, children, persons with disabilities, people of color, and immigrants.

Policy EJ‐2.2: Equitable Civic Engagement
The City shall support an equitable and comprehensive approach to civic engagement and public outreach on all aspects of City governance and delivery of services.

Program EJ‐2.3: Empower Community Organizations
Identify key community organizations working with underserved and historically disadvantaged communities and ensure these organizations and representatives from historically disadvantaged communities play a substantive role in implementing the Climate Adaptation and Safety Element.

Program EJ‐2.4: Ensure Public Engagement Noticing Manual Advances Procedural Equity Maintain the Public Engagement Noticing Manual (PEN Manual) as the guiding framework for all departments to participate in meaningful two‐way communication with the public on all aspects of County governance and delivery of services. Community outreach and education opportunities should include multi‐lingual options for both written materials and in‐person engagement. The events should also include demographic surveys as part of community outreach events to ensure that participants are representative of the demographic makeup (e.g., race, age, ethnicity) of the city’s population as a whole. The City shall provide opportunities for community organizations and other stakeholders to review strategy details before implementation.

Program EJ‐2.5: Develop Equity Checklist for City Programs and Capital Improvement Projects Use equity metrics included in the State’s Adaptation Planning Guide, or similar metrics, to develop an Equity and Environmental Justice Project Checklist to be used during the design and development of City‐led programs and capital improvement projects to ensure they are implemented equitably and, where appropriate, historically disadvantaged communities are prioritized in receiving the benefits of the project.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program EJ‐2.6: Establish Community Resilience Fund
Develop funding mechanisms through the State’s Integrated Climate and Resiliency Program and develop criteria to administer a Community Resilience Fund that provides grants to individuals or community organizations to implement projects that support social cohesion as it relates to public safety, climate change impacts, and disaster recovery. Criteria would be developed to evaluate applications and prioritize the allocation of funding to projects that focus on protecting the most vulnerable populations (i.e., low‐income, minority, or elderly populations).

Program EJ‐2.7: Report on Equity and Environmental Justice Progress Include “Equity and Environmental Justice” as a category for reporting in the General Plan Annual Report.

Policy FL‐3.5: A Resilient Flood Management System
The City shall explore opportunities to add redundancy to the city’s existing stormwater and flood management systems to mitigate impacts from increased storm intensities, as needed. To provide co‐benefits to the SLO community, design flood management system redundancies to serve multiple purposes that add value to the community (e.g., detention basins that serve as parks or recreation areas). Resilient flood management projects should be prioritized in locations of the city that are the most vulnerable.

Policy FL‐3.6: Regional Coordination for Flood Control
The City shall continue to coordinate with regional partners (e.g., San Luis Obispo County, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Caltrans, LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency) on flood preparedness and flood management initiatives.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program FL‐3.8 Flood Damage Prevention
Update the provisions in Chapter 17.78 “Flood Damage Prevention” to incorporate climate risk and information from the updated Waterway Management Plan.

Program FL‐3.9: Sustainable Flood Management and Open Space Develop a program to work with public and private landowners upstream of waterways passing through the city (e.g., Stenner Creek, San Luis Obispo Creek) to manage stormwater runoff through sustainable land conservation practices (e.g., conservation easements) that achieve multiple objectives including habitat restoration, land conservation, carbon farming, reconnection/enhancement of floodplain areas and vegetation management, with a focus on strategies that will reduce current and future flood risk.

Program FL‐3.7: Waterway Management Plan
The City shall work with County to update the Waterway Management Plan to incorporate the climate‐informed flood risk modeling that was developed as part of the City’s Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment. The City will encourage the County to include the following components in the updated Waterway Management Plan: • Incorporate future changes in precipitation patterns into the City’s Drainage Design Manual to ensure that future development in the city can properly accommodate changes in runoff from small and large storm events caused by climate change. • Incorporate climate‐informed flood risk modeling in all flood management‐related capital improvement projects in the Waterway Management Plan. • Develop strategy to offset the increase in stormwater runoff from existing residential and nonresidential land uses from small storm events through green infrastructure to help offset climate impacts on the City's stormwater management system from climate change. Prioritize green infrastructure design improvements, including rain gardens, rainwater catchment barrels, green stormwater infrastructure, bio‐swales,detentions basins, permeable parking lots, and permeable pavement. • Identify critical bridges, railways, and roadways (e.g., high‐volume roadways, key evacuation routes) and prioritize upgrades to flood managent and drainange infrastructure associated with these roadways to account for future increases in large storm events. Identify anthropogenic bank protection features that could lead to flooding through channel constriction and mitigate those structures (e.g., rock gabion baskets, stacked concrete sack walls). • Identify riparian corridors and floodplains particularly suited for water retention (e.g. is suitable to receive flood waters, can slow down inchannel waterthrough) and prioritize conservation and restoration projects on these areas to restore and retain natural floodplain function and slow in‐channel velocity with vegetation.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program FL‐3.11: Flood‐Prepared Neighborhoods Program
Work with the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services, community organizations, and regional partners to develop neighborhood readiness plans for areas of the city that are at current and future risk from flooding events. The City should prioritize planning efforts in neighborhoods that are the most vulnerable, and ensure additional supports are available for community members to participate in the planning process and invest in flood resilience.

Program FL‐3.12: Community‐Driven Flood Education
Continue to work with the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services to provide accurate and readily available flood risk information through the County Ready SLO and City Prepare SLO websites and resources and integrate future flood risk and climate‐related flood impacts into County Ready SLO and City Prepare SLO materials. Creative community‐driven flood risk and resilience workshops should be developed to build awareness with hard‐to‐reach populations and high‐risk neighborhoods. These workshops could occur through collaboration with the County of San Luis Obispo Zone 9 Flood Control and Watershed Protection District.

Program FL‐3.13 Flood Warning Monitoring System
Explore the feasibility, costs, and benefits of developing a dedicated early warning flood monitoring system or incorporate early flood warning into existing alert and notification systems, in coordination with regional partners to provide alerts to residents and visitors in the city during large storm events. Ensure that such a program provides benefits to the most vulnerable members of the region, including persons experiencing homelessness and mobile home communities.

Program FL‐3.14 Research and Develop Flood Protection Measures Research and develop flood damage prevention measures that can be applied to existing properties that will be at increased flood risk due to climate change.

Policy HE‐4.1: Climate‐Smart Urban Heat Mitigation
The City shall equitably mitigate the effects of extreme heat in outdoor environments.

Policy HE‐4.2: Equitable Access to Safe Indoor Spaces
The City shall support equitable access to climate controlled indoor spaces.

Policy HE‐4.3: Green and Healthy Buildings
The City shall support fuel switching retrofits (from fossil fuel to high‐efficiency electric appliances), energy efficiency retrofits, and distributed energy resources as low carbon solutions to create safe, cool, and healthy buildings and consider programs and projects that support these retrofits as critical to maintaining community safety and to supporting disaster preparedness.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program HE‐4.5: Climate‐Smart Urban Tree Canopy
Conduct analysis and incorporate climate change considerations into the City’s Community Forest Plan and update the City’s Street Trees Master List to prepare for increases in minimum and maximum temperatures and extreme heat events and corresponding drought and fire risk, identifying which trees will be most vulnerable to climate impacts and which species will thrive during future increases in temperature. Ensure that the updated Street Trees Master List does not include high water use trees or highly combustible trees. Emphasize the planting and care of appropriate climate‐ready trees in locations where they will have the greatest chances of success in environmentalconditions that are predicted to become more challenging (i.e., “right tree, right place”). Communicate the results of the analysis to help community members prepare for impacts on trees on private property. Give high priority to water conservation in all urban forest‐related actions. This could include species selection, irrigation method and time‐of‐day recommendations, mulching, co‐location with natural drainages and stormwater runoff, etc. Lumber from removed trees should be used in ways that store carbon indefinitely instead of releasing it back into the atmosphere, and these uses should be publicized to build awareness and support for climate action.

Program HE‐4.4: Urban Heat Island Mitigation Program
Develop and implement a program to mitigate the projected increasing impacts from the urban heat island effect. This program should include:
• A strategy to maintain and enhance the city’s urban tree canopy and other vegetative features to help reduce the urban heat island effect while accounting for the effect of shifting average minimum andmaximum temperatures on sensitive tree species and vegetation. • A “cool pavement” pilot to reduce the urban heat island effect being generated from the city’s pavement surfaces, focusing on large surface parking lots and urban heat island hotspots. Should the pilot prove effective, consider scaling the program, including through the adoption of new standards for new development projects, as appropriate, to use high‐albedo or cool pavements for surface parking lots. • A Climate‐ Smart Green Infrastructure Strategy with regular updates to the City’s Capital Improvement Program and Foundational Action Natural Solutions 2.1 in the City’s Climate Action Plan which focuses on preparing the City’s first Community Forest Plan by 2022 and planting and maintaining 10,000 new trees by 2035. • A review of and update to Section 12.38.090 “Landscaping Standards” in the City’s Municipal Code and other design guidelines to incorporate strategies to increase shading of buildings and parking lots to mitigate the urban heat island effect while also ensuring that the updated landscaping standards are aligned with recommended fire wise plant species. • A review of and update to City development standards, where appropriate, to include building and site design features that mitigate the urban heat island effect including reflective roofing, solar carports.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program HE‐4.6: Community Cool Zones Network
Work with community organizations, faith‐based organizations, businesses, local government entities in SLO County, and other institutions to develop a Community Cool Zone Network comprised of air‐conditioned spaces conveniently located throughout the city that can be opened during heat wave events to help prevent heat‐related illness for vulnerable populations (e.g., elderly, youth, homeless, residents without air conditioning). Support network participants to conduct energy efficiency and building decarbonization improvements consistent with the City’s Climate Action Plan. Prioritize opening cool zone locations in areas with identified heatvulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities and consider co‐locating with Resilience Hubs. Assess feasibility and efficacy of providing transportation options to the cooling network location to elderly residents and transit‐dependent populations.

Program HE‐4.7: Green and Healthy Buildings Program
Expand the City’s Green and Healthy Buildings Program (the existing building retrofit program focused on electrification per the 2020 Climate Action Plan) to include climate resilience retrofit features to help residents prepare for the impacts of climate change (e.g., extreme heat, wildfires, and wildfire smoke). This work should include conducting a gap analysis to identify portions of the city’s housing stock that are not equipped with air‐conditioning or other cooling systems to address the projected increases in temperature and extreme heat events. As part of the building retrofit program, include proactive efforts (i.e., incentives, matching funds) to retrofit or assist with retrofitting the identified housing stock with climate resiliency features including: • Adequate climate control equipment (e.g., heat pump HVAC‐systems) with air filtration systems. • Weatherization and energy efficiency improvements. • Distributed energy resources (e.g., rooftop solar, battery storage, electric vehicle battery to building equipment, etc.) to support grid‐independent operation and to offset utility energy costs. • Home hardening improvements to protect against wildfire.

Program HE‐4.8: Extreme Heat and Emergency Preparedness As part of the next update of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan, incorporate a protocol for emergency operations during extreme heat events in the city. Identify extreme heat thresholds which, if exceeded, would trigger the opening of cooling centers in the city as well as emergency response efforts from appropriate City departments (e.g., Police Department, Fire Department, Parks & Recreation). Coordinate emergency response efforts in Program HE‐4.9 regarding heatrelated community outreach with this strategy.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
m ID
Description Hazard
Category
Policy Status  CASE New Policy
Number
CASE Policy Text
Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program HE‐4.9: Equitable Community Outreach For Extreme Heat Use information from the Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report that identifies areas in the City with vulnerable populations (e.g.,linguistically isolated households, elderly, youth, homeless, individuals with chronic health conditions) to conduct targeted outreach to these neighborhoods and areas in the City. Increase education and training opportunities for residents to prepare for extreme heat events, with a prioritization on participation from vulnerable populations andbusinesses and institutions that house and/or support vulnerable populations. Work with community organizations and the San Luis Obispo County Health Department to provide additional resources and training to staff working with elderly populations on how to prevent health‐related heat impacts (Paterson et al. 2014). Work with community organizations and schools to help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and heat wave events on youth. Educate and train staff working with youth populations on how to prevent health‐relatedimpacts from extreme heat. Continually assess the effectiveness of the City’s public information and education efforts during heat wave events.

Policy FI‐5.1: Reduce Wildfire Risk
The City shall reduce the risk of wildfires in city open spaces and in the wildland urban interface through timely implementation of the City’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan and the Vegetation Management Plan.

Policy FI‐5.5: Wildfires and Critical Facilities
The City shall locate, when feasible, new essential public facilities outside of high fire risk areas, including, but not limited to, hospitals and health care facilities, emergency shelters, emergency command centers, and emergency communications facilities, or identifying construction methods or other methods to minimize damage if these facilities are located in a State Responsibility Area or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

Policy FI‐5.6 Maintain Fire Flow
The City shall ensure adequate fire flow is maintained within the City limits through ongoing maintenance, capital improvement public infrastructure upgrades, and improvements required in association with development projects.

Policy FI‐5.7 Fire Suppression Infrastructure Resiliency The City shall maintain fire flow during scheduled and unscheduled power outages and interruptions through incorporation of power source resiliency and redundancy within City public water supply, treatment, and distribution infrastructure.

Policy FI‐5.8: Wildfire and Parking Management
The City shall restrict on‐street parking in high wildfire risk areas in San Luis Obispo during increased fire risk days in accordance with the Fire Code to ensure full access for fire trucks and emergency vehicles and to increase roadway accessibility during evacuation events. The City Fire Department and other departments shall identify streets and neighborhoods that are at increased wildfire risk using the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones, Wildland Urban Interface Areas identified by the City, or another internal process. Conduct community outreach to neighborhoods affected by the policy and provide detailed information on how and when the parking restrictions will be implemented.

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Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Policy FI‐5.9: Concurrency of Fire Protection Services
The City shall ensure that adequate fire protection staffing, facilities, and equipment required, to serve developments operating before, or in conjunction with development.

Policy FI‐5.10: Climate‐Smart Fire Protection
The City shall incorporate the most current climate science regarding wildfires into all future reviews and updates to the City’s fire and wildfire related documents (e.g., community wildfire protection plan).

Policy FI‐5.11: Proactive Communications on Fire Risks and Prevention The City shall proactively communicate with the public about fire risks and prevention, including information about: • wildfire smoke health impacts and available mitigation strategies • The “Ready, Set, Go!” wildfire preparedness program including defensible space, home hardening, personal wildfire action planning, and evacuation actions. • Public safety power shutoffs associated with high fire danger.

Program FI‐5.12: Implement the Community Wildfire Protection Plan Continue to implement the City’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) to reduce wildfire risk in the City’s wildland‐urban interface including implementation of the CWPP Tactical Policy Measures which focus on the four key policy areas of community education, fuels management, planning, and emergency response preparedness on anongoing basis. Update the CWPP, every 5 years or sooner, to incorporate new best practices, funding opportunities, new legislation regarding wildfire protection, and other wildfire protection planning resources.

Program FI‐5.13: Implement the Vegetation Management Plan Continue to implement the City’s Vegetation Management Plan, conducting fuel reduction projects at the 12 large open space lands included in the plan, using vegetation management techniques appropriate for each open space including manual vegetation removal; tree removal; mechanical treatment, prescribed burning, livestock grazing, and chemical treatment. Update the Vegetation Management Plan, as needed, to incorporate regulations regarding new best practices, and new funding opportunities for vegetation management projects. Meet with the yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini (Northern Chumash Tribe San Luis Obispo County and Region (ytt Tribe)), Northern Chumash Tribal Council, and other tribal bodies on an annual basis, or as needed to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge approaches to vegetation management in the City where appropriate. Work with private property owners, San Luis Obispo County, and Caltrans to conduct roadside vegetation clearance along public and private roadways in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the city. Ensure that fuel reductions provide an appropriate fuel buffer for evacuees should these roadways become congested during an emergency incident. Develop an Urban Creek Vegetation Management Plan as part of the Waterway Management Plan update. The plan shall set forth a holistic vision to address excessive and noxious vegetation and dead material in the creeks and waterways in San Luis Obispo and surrounding areas. Work with private property owners and San Luis Obispo County toreview and conduct vegetation management to ensure dead trees and vegetation are reduced to prevent fire from spreading to adjacent lands.

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m ID
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Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program FI‐5.14: Wildfire Ignition Source Reduction Program The City will work to reduce wildfire ignition sources within the City’s open space and creek systems in accordance with fire code amendments that restricts public access to hazardous fire areas as designated by the Fire Chief.

Program FI‐5.15: Wildland‐Urban‐Interface Defensible Space and Home Hardening Program Implement a program to assist homeowners, landlords, and business owners in improving the defensible space for structures in or near the very high fire hazard severity zones. The program will serve to connect participants to contractors with experience in developing or improving home hardening improvements (e.g., fire‐safe building materials, fire resistant home vent upgrades). The program will seek funding tosupplement the costs associated with defensible space improvements, prioritizing low‐income participants and elderly or disabled residents who would not be able to implement defensible space improvements on their own. The program would be developed and administered in close collaboration with the City’s Fire Department and CAL FIRE to ensure appropriate standards for defensible space are implemented as part of the program consistent with AB 3074 (“Fire Prevention: wildfire risk : defensible space: ember‐resistant zones”).

Program FI‐5.16: Resident Information and Training on Fire Hazards The City will inform homeowners and tenants about local fire hazards, appropriate responses to fire, and ways to prevent loss, including home improvements that can reduce the impact of fire. The City will promote the efforts of the Fire Safe Council. The City will continue hosting community preparedness sessions and workshops as effective preparation resources for residents to aid themselves when needs exceed the availability of professional emergency response workers.

The City will support education programs in the lower grades, using displays and demonstrations to inform young children about fire safety, and in secondary schools, demonstrating the dynamic aspects of fire, including major factors contributing to fire hazard and the relationship of fire to the natural ecology. Fire prevention and evacuation lessons will be included in each program.

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Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program FI‐5.17: Wildfire Smoke Protection Outreach Strategy Work with the San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District to ensure residents are educated on how to protect themselves and their homes from wildfire smoke impacts. Prioritize outreach campaigns to populations who are vulnerable to poor air quality and those who work with the population (e.g., elderly care nurses and assistances, teachers), conducting educational events at convenient locations for these residents. The outreach strategy should also focus on supporting employers to maintain compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5141.1, which applies to most outdoor workplaces where the current Air Quality Index (current AQI) for airborne particulate matter is 2.5 micrometers or smaller is 151 or greater, and where employers should reasonably anticipate that employees could be exposed to wildfire smoke. Compliance requirements and traininginstructions are included in California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5141.1.

Program FI‐5.18: Support Community Resilience During Public Safety Power Shutoffs Proactively provide information for the installation of battery storage systems for existing residential and non‐residential developments, prioritizing opportunities for essential services such as hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential service businesses.

Develop a streamlined permitting process, including appropriate CEQA exemptions, for the installation of small‐ and large‐scale battery storage systems in existing residential and nonresidential development as well as providing applicants information on available financing options. Prioritize grant or other resource allocation to residents facing additional risks from Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPSs) including the elderly and disabled. Explore the viability of vehicle‐to‐building (V2B) technologies that can provide resilience by using the energy stored in PEV batters to power loads inside residential, commercial, or public buildings.

Policy GE‐6.4 Structual Stability
Require new development to ensure structural stability while not creating or contributing to erosion, subsidence, or geologic instability or destruction of the site or surrounding area. Ensure that soils reports are prepared by a licensed civil engineer with expertise in soils and geology. Prior to acceptance, require soils reports by a certified engineering geologist when developing in the following areas: a. Expansive soils and potential for subsidence b. All areas having cut or fill material on property c. Where there are known or suspected geologic, soils or hydrologic problems in the immediate vicinity.

Program GE‐6.5 Update the Hillside Planning Program
Update the City's Hillside Planning Program to ensure orderly development along the City's hillside areas prioritizing safe access, circulation and evacuation routes.

Program GE‐6.6 Safeguard the Inegrity of Utility Conveyance Systems Incorporate clmate modles and hazard impact assessment in the desing and planning of maintenance and upgrades of utility conveyance stystems.

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Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Policy OP‐7.2 Climate‐Informed Emergency Operations Planning The City shall incoporate climate projections and climate impact data into the Emergency Operation Plan updates.

Policy OP‐7.7 Business and Economic Resilience
The City shall incorporate climate projections and climate impact data to develop business and economic resiliency.

Policy OP‐7.8 Climate Change and Food Security
The City shall miimize potentila impacts of climate hazards on food security.

Program OP‐7.9 Climate Resilience Fund
Establish a Climate Resilience Fund to support the implementation of climate adaptation strategies identified in the Community Safety and Resilience Element. Supplement the Climate Resilience Fund by identifying and pursuing funding and financing opportunities for specific climate adaptation and climate‐related hazard mitigation strategies. Identify high‐priced climate adaptation strategies or capital improvement projects and research the feasibility of financing these efforts through green bonds or similar financing mechanisms.

Program OP‐7.11 Clean Energy Microgrid for City Facilities Continue supporting the City’s current Carbon Neutral City Facilities plan. As part of this plan, if appropriate, conduct a feasibility study for developing a clean energy microgrid for key City facilities to provide clean, and reliant back‐up power during utility disruptions (e.g., Public Safety Power Shutoffs or other disruptions) as well as providing local solar power to City facilities for non‐emergency use during the day. Ensure that the feasibility study includes the following details to allow for the development of a City microgrid, if deemed feasible: • A review of regulatory and operational considerations • A conceptual shovel‐ready design of the technical components for a fully connected microgrid and an “islandable” solar + storage system • A phasing strategy and procurement plan for implementation • An operational strategy that includes governance and cybersecurity • Key considerations for operation of the microgrid during short‐term and long‐utility disruptions Seek funding sources including the California Energy Commission’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Program and the Pacific Gas and Electric Community Microgrid Enablement Program (CMEP) to conduct a feasibility study.

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Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program OP‐7.16 Climate Resiliency Checklist for New Development Similar to the City’s GHG Emissions Analysis Compliance Checklist, develop a Climate Resiliency Checklist to ensure that new residential and nonresidential development in the city is City Operations and Emergency Services Climate Adaptation and Safety Element | 81 designed and built to withstand the forecasted impacts of climate change and incorporate Environmental Justice. Incorporate all appropriate policies related to new development that are included in the Community Safety and Resilience Element into the checklist. Items in the Climate Resiliency Checklist should be objective and comply with all relevant housing laws to eliminate discretionary review. Checklist items could include: A. Energy design standards that incorporate future changes in annual average minimum and maximum temperatures B. Additional battery storage requirements for certain types of development to mitigate impacts from future utility disruptions C.

Defensible space and home hardening requirements for development located in high wildfire risk areas designated by the City D. Additional building design or site plan requirements to mitigate flood‐related impacts in areas with current or future flood risk E. Additional building design or landscaping requirement to reduce water consumption in new development
Program OP‐7.19 Building City Capacity for Climate Resilience Identify key gaps in the City’s knowledge of climate adaptation planning and how to integrate the topic into work efforts. Establish a 1–3 year strategy and workplan to increase City staff capacity to fully integrate climate change adaptation as a key component of their work for City Operations and Emergency Services Climate Adaptation and SafetyElement | 82 appropriate departments and staff. Assess progresstowards increasing staff capacity to address climate change on an annual basis and adjust strategy accordingly based on results and new information and guidance regarding climate adaptation planning.

Establish the City’s Green Team as the official working group to help implement the suite of climate adaptation strategies included in the Climate Adaptation and Safety Element, identifying representatives from key City departments to lead climate adaptation efforts in those departments.

Program OP‐7.20 Traditional Ecological knowledge
Work with the yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini (Northern Chumash Tribe San Luis Obispo County and Region (ytt Tribe)), Northern Chumash Tribal Council, and other tribal bodies listed by the Native American Heritage Commission to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge approaches into the City’s Conservation Guidelines for Open Space Lands.

Program OP‐7.21 Climate Smart Pest Management
Integrate Climate‐Smart Pest Management Practices into the City’s Open Space Conservation Guidelines with consideration of how climate change is going to affect pest control and invasive species.

Goal/Polciy/Progra
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Policy Status  CASE New Policy
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Matrix of Proposed Changes ‐ Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Program OP‐7.22 Climate Informed Emergency Operation Plan During the City’s next comprehensive update of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), incorporate climate projections and climate impact data from the Climate Change Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report into the plan’s hazard identification and analysis to ensure hazard specific annexes address climate‐related disasters. Analyze future staffing and resource requirements to adequately address the future frequency and intensity of climate‐related hazards in the city.

Develop protocols for novel climate‐related hazards that the city has previously experienced which are not adequately addressed in existing EOP hazard‐specific annexes.

Program OP‐7.23 Climate Informed Economic Development strategic Plan Work with the local business community to identify key economicsectors that are vulnerable to impacts from climate‐related hazards and other hazards identified in the Hazard Mitigation Plan (e.g., tourism) and develop a strategy to diversify the City’s economy to avoidoverreliance on economic sectors that are vulnerable to climate impacts and local hazards. Work with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce to identify businesses and local industries already being affected by climate‐related impacts (e.g., drought, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, flood) and identify opportunities to help support affected industries. Where economic vulnerabilities pose a risk to ongoing City revenues, develop programs to bolster the City’s financial resilience through a Resilience Fund or other measures.

Program OP‐7.24 Food Security
Work with community organizations (e.g., SLO Food Bank) and the SLO County Health Department to assess potential impacts of climatehazards on food availability, food prices and food insecurity in the city, particularly for disadvantaged communities. Partner with community organizations to address food insecurity including opportunities to support food recovery efforts as part of implementation of Senate Bill 1383 to reduce food waste and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

PC RESOLUTION NO. 1067-22

A RESOLUTION OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO PLANNING COMMISSION

RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A NEGATIVE

DECLARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND AMENDMENTS

TO THE SAFETY ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN AS

REPRESENTED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT
AND ATTACHMENTS DATED DECEMBER 14, 2022 (GENP-0436-2022 & EID-0437-2022)
WHEREAS, State law requires cities and counties to adopt a general plan. The General Plan includes nine elements, one of which is the Safety Element; and WHEREAS, the City’s General Plan Safety Element was adopted on July 5, 2000 and last updated on December 9, 2014 in compliance with State law; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a public workshop on October 26, 2022 for the purpose of considering background and information of the Element’s vision, goals, policies and programs; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a public hearing on December 14, 2022, for the purpose of considering the Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact and amendments to the Safety Element of the General Plan, titled Climate Adaptation and Safety Element, to address the changing needs, resources and conditions in the community, as required by State law; and WHEREAS, said public hearing was for the purpose of formulating and forwarding recommendations to the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo regarding the project; and
WHEREAS, notices of said public hearing were made at the time and in the manner required by law; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has duly considered all evidence, including the testimony of the applicant, interested parties, and the evaluation and recommendations by staff, presented at said hearing.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows:

SECTION 1. Findings. Based upon all the evidence, the Commission makes the following findings:

1. The proposed amendments included in the Climate Adaptation and Safety Element are consistent with other land use goals and policies of the General Plan.

DocuSign Envelope ID: 3D4AABAD-4079-4D7D-B861-72D20FEE00A9

Planning Commission Resolution No. 1067-22
Climate Adaptation and Safety Element – GENP-0436-2022 & EID-0437-2022

2. The proposed amendments are appropriate and necessary to ensure that the City’s Safety Element meets State law and the changing needs, resources, and conditions in the community.

SECTION 2. Environmental Review. The Planning Commission does hereby recommend the City Council adopt a Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact in accordance with CEQA Guidelines section 15063(b)(2): “The lead agency shall prepare a negative declaration if there is no substantial evidence that the project or any of its aspects may cause a significant effect on the environment.” SECTION 3. Action. The Planning Commission does hereby recommend the City Council adopt the proposed Climate Adaptation and Safety Element of the General Plan dated November 2022, with amendments shown in Planning Commission correspondence from staff dated December 14, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference.

On motion by Commissioner Houghton, seconded by Commissioner Jorgensen, and on the following roll call vote:

AYES: Commissioner Houghton, Jorgensen, Vice Chair Hopkins, and Chair Kahn
NOES: None
REFRAIN: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Cooley and Munoz-Morris
The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this day of adopted this 14th day of December 2022.
__________________________
Teresa McClish, Secretary
Planning Commission
DocuSign Envelope ID: 3D4AABAD-4079-4D7D-B861-72D20FEE00A9

City of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum
City of San Luis Obispo
Planning Commission Agenda Correspondence
DATE: December 20, 2022
TO: Chair and Commissioners
FROM: Michael Codron, Community Development Director
VIA: Teresa McClish, Housing Policy and Programs Manager SUBJECT: Item #4a – Review of the Draft Climate Adaptation and Safety Element Update – Agenda Correspondence Memo

DISCUSSION
Staff received a letter from the Department of Forestry and Fire on the Draft Climate Adaptation and Safety Element (CASE) regarding consistency Government Code Section 65302, subdivision (g)(3). The Department of Forestry and Fire provided an assessment of the CASE and identified recommendations to further ensure consistency with the requirements under State Law.

Staff has reviewed the recommendations from the Department of Forestry and Fire, and have made the following amendments to the draft CASE to improve consistency, new language is highlighted in blue, removed language is highlighted as red with a strike out.

Program MH-1.10 (Post-Disaster Recovery Resources and Education) has been amended to include strategies associated with recovery and redevelopment after a large fire, and shall read as follows:

Program MH-1.10: Post-Disaster Recovery Resources and Education Work with community organizations, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services, and other key stakeholders to: 1)assess effectiveness in postdisaster recovery efforts including establishing metrics to ensure that post-disaster recovery resources are allocated equitably; 2) Assess potential barriers for rehabilitation and rebuilding in post-disaster situations and develop protocols to remove barriers; and 3) educate individuals and households about strategies to increase preparedness for emergency events and climate-related impacts. Use information from the City’s Hazards and Vulnerabilities Report (Appendix A) to identify areas in the City with vulnerable populations (e.g., linguistically isolated households, elderly, youth, homeless, individuals with chronic health conditions) to conduct targeted outreach to these neighborhoods and areas in the City. Strategies could include:
• Ensure recovery and redevelopment after a large fire and that reduce future vulnerabilities to fire hazard risks through site preparation, redevelopment layout design, fire-resistant landscape planning, and fire-retarding building design and materials.

Review of the Draft CASE Update – Agenda Correspondence Memo Page 2 • Creating emergency kits emergency supply kits for homes, cars, and at work locations
• Creating personal emergency funds for short- and long-term emergency events
• Information on how to improve property addressing visibility for first responders
• Implementing household hazard mitigation projects such as defensible space, home hardening, earthquake retrofitting, and home insulating to improve ability to inhabit home during and post emergency event or climate-related impact. • Information on mental health and support services for post-disaster recovery.

Staff has also provided clarification on Page 47 to address the State Responsible Area fire hazard zones, which are more inclusive then listing the specific zones, and shall read as follows:

In addition to portions of the City that overlap with the WUI there are several City facilities outside of City limits that are located within State Responsible Area fire hazard zones in, or adjacent to, High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones including tThe Water Treatment Plant and Reservoir #2. These City facilities are located in the State Responsibility Area moderate zone, and, the road between the facilities cross through a High Fire Severity zone. Additionally, the Salinas Reservoir (Santa Margarita) is within Federal Responsible Area high and very high zones.

Policy FI-5.2 (City-Wide Fire-Smart Land-Use Planning) has been amended to prohibit and restrict development within Very High wildland fire hazard severity zones and shall read as follows…
Policy FI-5.2: City-Wide Fire-Smart Land-Use Planning
The City shall minimize fire risk in land-use planning decisions including updates to zoning, subdivision codes and design criteria to mitigate wildfire hazards and reduce risks to new development.

Promote the following risk reduction measures in future land use planning efforts in the city:
• New subdivisions shall be prohibited in areas of “Very High” wildland fire hazard severity zone as shown in Figure 11 unless part of conservation or open space acquisition program. Development of existing parcels shall require a development plan to manage fuels, maintain a buffer zone, and provide adequate fire protection to the approval of the Chief Building Official. The development plan must be consistent with Policies required by the City’s Conservation and Open Space Element.
• Use wildfire risk analysis resources such as the CAL FIRE’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program data in updates to future housing site constraints analyses.

Review of the Draft CASE Update – Agenda Correspondence Memo Page 3 • Promote the use of clustered development patterns for subdivisions to require less fire suppression resources and that are easier to defend during wildfire events.

Policy FI-5.4 (Fire-Smart Buildings and High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones) has been amended to address evacuation routes for substantial development projects within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and shall read as follows; Policy FI-5.4: Fire-Smart Buildings and High Or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
The City shall reduce wildfire risk associated with new development by requiring all new development located within any CAL FIRE designated High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone to:
• Meet or exceed the State’s Fire Safe Regulations (title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 2, articles 1-5 commencing with section 1270) and Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations (title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3 commencing with section 1299.01).
• Include designs to minimize pockets or peninsulas or islands of flammable vegetation within a development.
• Include additional access roads, where feasible, to ensure adequate access for emergency equipment and civilian evacuation concurrently. More than one evacuation route is required for substantial development (as defined in policy OP-7.3 Emergency Access and Evacuation) in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. All requirements and any deviations will be at the discretion of the Fire Code Official.
• Meet or exceed the California Building Code for Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure (Title 24, part 2, Chapter 7A). • For all remodeled or rebuilt structures, require projects to meet current ignition resistance construction codes included in the State’s Fire Safe Regulations.

Policy FI-5.6 (Maintain Fire Flow) has been amended to indicate compliance with state regulations and shall read as follows:

Policy FI-5.6 Maintain Fire Flow
The City shall ensure adequate fire flow is maintained within the City limits through ongoing maintenance, capital improvement public infrastructure upgrades, and improvements required in association with development projects and in compliance with applicable California Fire Safe Regulations.

New Program FI-5.19 (Fire Protection Plans Related to New Development) has been added to develop standards for fire protection plans and shall read as follows:

Review of the Draft CASE Update – Agenda Correspondence Memo Page 4 Program FI-5.19 Fire Protection Plans Related to New Development.

Develop standards for new development in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones or Wildland-Urban Interface Zones requiring preparation of project-specific fire protection plans, in addition to complying with all applicable state and local building and fire code regulations. Fire protection plans may include a risk analysis, discussion of fire response capabilities, compliance with fire safety requirements (defensible space, fire protection infrastructure, building ignition resistance, etc.), appropriate mitigation measures and design considerations for any non-conforming fuel modification, maintenance, and education for residents.

Program OP-7.15 (Coordinated Emergency Planning) has been amended to address areas with limited evacuation routes and shall read as follows:

Program OP-7.15: Coordinated Emergency Planning
The City will work within the Standardized Emergency Management System, an emergency response and coordination system used throughout California, the National Incident Management System, and the National Response Framework. The City will participate in periodic disaster-response drills, on a regional basis with all involved jurisdictions and involving the news media.

The City will review the SB99 Analysis, the hazard assessment studies and emergency response plans of utilities and of transportation agencies and companies operating in the San Luis Obispo area, and update the City’s Emergency Plan, including evacuation routes, as necessary. Included in this program is the identification of existing public and private roadways in fire hazard severity zones and the wildland-urban interface (WUI) that are not in compliance with current fire safety regulations, including road standards for evacuation and emergency vehicle access, vegetation clearance, and other requirements of the California Fire Safe Regulations (California Code of Regulations - Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7), to the extent resources are available. Work at retrofitting City-owned roadways as needed to meet current standards and require private property owners to do the same, to the extent feasible and given the absence of other site constraints.

The City will work with Caltrans to assure transport of hazardous materials follows Caltrans-approved routes, with all necessary safety precautions taken to prevent hazardous materials spills. The City will train fire fighters, police officers, building inspectors, and public works.

Program OP-7.18 (Staff Training) has been amended to describe goals or emergency service training and shall read as follows:

Program OP-7.18: Staff Training
The City will ensure standards, guidelines, and local ordinances are updated to ensure provision of adequate fire protection and emergency medical service for all persons and property in the community.

Review of the Draft CASE Update – Agenda Correspondence Memo Page 5 The City will train fire fighters, police officers, building inspectors, and public works and utilities staff to levels appropriate for their tasks and responsibilities. The City will provide training for those of its staff who apply its building regulations and planning standards, emphasizing the lessons learned in locations that have experienced disasters. The City will conduct disaster-response exercises for the types of nonnuclear disasters discussed in this element, coordinated with participation in required, periodic nuclear-disaster response training exercises. All public employees in the State of California are considered Disaster Service Workers (DSW) and as such the City will train all employees to ensure basic understanding of DSW responsibilities, the State Emergency Management System, National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System.

The Program Implementation Timeline has been amended to reflect new program FI5.19.

ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Letter from Department of Forestry and Fire Attachment 2 – Revised Draft CASE

General Plan Safety Element Assessment
Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
San Luis Obispo

Contents
Purpose and Background...............................................................................................................................................1 Methodology for Review and Recommendations.........................................................................................................2 General Plan Safety Element Assessment .....................................................................................................................3 Background Information Summary ........................................................................................................................3 Goals, Policies, Objectives, and Feasible Implementation Measures....................................................................5 Section 1 Avoiding or minimizing the wildfire hazards associated with new uses of land ................................5 Section 2 Develop adequate infrastructure if a new development is located in SRAs or VHFHSZs...................6 Section 3 Working cooperatively with public agencies responsible for fire protection. ...................................7 Sample Safety Element Recommendations...................................................................................................................8 A. Maps, Plans and Historical Information.............................................................................................................8 B. Land Use .............................................................................................................................................................8 C. Fuel Modification................................................................................................................................................8 D. Access.................................................................................................................................................................9 E. Fire Protection ....................................................................................................................................................9 Fire Hazard Planning in Other Elements of the General Plan..................................................................................... 10 Land Use Element................................................................................................................................................ 10 Housing Element ................................................................................................................................................. 10 Open Space and Conservation Elements............................................................................................................. 10 Circulation Element............................................................................................................................................. 10

1 * https://www.opr.ca.gov/docs/Final_6.26.15.pdf
Purpose and Background
Upon the next revision of the housing element on or after January 1, 2014, the safety element is required to be reviewed and updated as necessary to address the risk of fire for land classified as state responsibility areas and land classified as very high fire hazard severity zones. (Gov. Code, § 65302, subd. (g)(3).)
The safety element is required to include:
• Fire hazard severity zone maps available from the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. • Any historical data on wildfires available from local agencies or a reference to where the data can be found.
• Information about wildfire hazard areas that may be available from the United States Geological Survey.
• The general location and distribution of existing and planned uses of land in very high fire hazard severity zones (VHFHSZs) and in state responsibility areas (SRAs), including structures, roads, utilities, and essential public facilities. The location and distribution of planned uses of land shall not require defensible space compliance measures required by state law or local ordinance to occur on publicly owned lands or open space designations of homeowner associations. • The local, state, and federal agencies with responsibility for fire protection, including special districts and local offices of emergency services. (Gov. Code, § 65302, subd. (g)(3)(A).) Based on that information, the safety element shall include goals, policies, and objectives that protect the community from the unreasonable risk of wildfire. (Gov. Code, § 65302, subd. (g)(3)(B).) To carry out those goals, policies, and objectives, feasible implementation measures shall be included in the safety element, which include but are not limited to:
• Avoiding or minimizing the wildfire hazards associated with new uses of land. • Locating, when feasible, new essential public facilities outside of high fire risk areas, including, but not limited to, hospitals and health care facilities, emergency shelters, emergency command centers, and emergency communications facilities, or identifying construction methods or other methods to minimize damage if these facilities are located in the SRA or VHFHSZ. • Designing adequate infrastructure if a new development is located in the SRA or VHFHSZ, including safe access for emergency response vehicles, visible street signs, and water supplies for structural fire suppression.
• Working cooperatively with public agencies with responsibility for fire protection. (Gov. Code, § 65302, subd. (g)(3)(C).)
The safety element shall also attach or reference any fire safety plans or other documents adopted by the city or county that fulfill the goals and objectives or contains the information required above. (Gov.

Code, § 65302, subd. (g)(3)(D).) This might include Local Hazard Mitigation Plans, Unit Fire Plans, Community Wildfire Protection Plans, or other plans.

There are several reference documents developed by state agencies to assist local jurisdictions in updating their safety elements to include wildfire safety. The Fire Hazard Planning, General Plan Technical Advice Series from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), referenced in Government Code section 65302, subdivision (g)(3) and available at 1400 Tenth Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 322-2318
The Technical Advice Series is also available from the OPR website (Technical Advice Series link).* The Technical Advice Series provides policy guidance, information resources, and fire hazard planning examples from around California that shall be considered by local jurisdictions when reviewing the safety element of its general plan.

The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) utilizes this Safety Element Assessment in the Board’s review of safety elements under Government Code section 65302.5. At least 90 days prior to the adoption or amendment of their safety element, counties that contain SRAs and cities or counties that contain VHFHSZs shall submit their safety element to the Board. (Gov. Code, § 65302.5, subd. (b).) The Board shall review the safety element and respond to the city or county with its findings regarding the uses of land and policies in SRAs or VHFHSZs that will protect life, property, and natural resources from

2 unreasonable risks associated with wildfires, and the methods and strategies for wildfire risk reduction and prevention within SRAs or VHFHSZs. (Gov. Code, § 65302.5, subd. (b)(3).) The CAL FIRE Land Use Planning team provides expert fire protection assistance to local jurisdictions statewide. Fire captains are available to work with cities and counties to revise their safety elements and enhance their strategic fire protection planning.

Methodology for Review and Recommendations
Utilizing staff from the CAL FIRE Land Use Planning team, the Board has established a standardized method to review the safety element of general plans. The methodology includes 1) reviewing the safety element for the requirements in Government Code section 65302, subdivision (g)(3)(A),
2) examining the safety element for goals, policies, objectives, and implementation measures that mitigate the wildfire risk in the planning area (Gov. Code, § 65302, subd. (g)(3)(B) & (C)), and 3) making recommendations for methods and strategies that would reduce the risk of wildfires (Gov.

Code, § 65302.5, subd. (b)(3)(B)).

The safety element will be evaluated against the attached Assessment, which contains questions to determine if a safety element meets the fire safety planning requirements outlined in Government Code, section 65302. The reviewer will answer whether or not a submitted safety element addresses the required information, and will recommend changes to the safety element that will reduce the wildfire risk in the planning area. These recommended changes may come from the list of sample goals, policies, objectives, and implementation measures that is included in this document after the Assessment, or may be based on the reviewer’s knowledge of the jurisdiction in question and their specific wildfire risk. By answering the questions in the Assessment, the reviewer will determine if the jurisdiction’s safety element has adequately addressed and mitigated their wildfire risk. If it hasn’t, any specific recommendations from the reviewer will assist the jurisdiction in revising the safety element so that it does.

Once completed, the Assessment should provide clear guidance to a city or county regarding any areas of deficiency in the safety element as well as specific goals, policies, objectives, and implementation measures the Board recommends adopting in order to mitigate or reduce the wildfire threat in the planning area.

3 General Plan Safety Element Assessment
Jurisdiction: San Luis Obispo Notes: Recommendations CAL FIRE Unit: SLU Date Received: 12/05/2022 County: San Luis Obispo LUPP Reviewer: Joe Kennedy UNIT CONTACT: Date Reviewed: 12/09/2022

BACKGROUND INFORMATION SUMMARY
The safety element must contain specific background information about fire hazards in each jurisdiction.

Instructions for this table: Indicate whether the safety element includes the specified information. If YES, indicate in the comments where that information can be found; if NO, provide recommendations to the jurisdiction regarding how best to include that information in their revised safety element.

Required Information Yes or No Comments and Recommendations Are Fire Hazard Severity Zones Identified?
CAL FIRE or Locally Adopted Maps
YES CASE FIGURE 11 Pg. 48– Wildfire Hazard Severity
Zones in and Surrounding the City of San Luis
Obispo with Critical Facilities
CASE Appendix C Multi-jurisdiction Hazard
mitigation Plan Annex G.26
CASE Appendix G – Cal Fire San Luis Obispo
County Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
CASE PG 5 Consistency with multi-jurisdictional
Hazard Mitigation Plan
CASE PG 47 discussion of Wildfire severity zones
Is historical data on wildfires or a reference to where the data can be found, and information about wildfire hazard areas that may be available from the United States
Geological Survey, included?
YES CASE Figure 12 Pg 49. Wildfire Perimeters for
Wildfires within 10 miles of the City of San Luis
Obispo
CASE Pg 47

4 Required Information Yes or No Comments and Recommendations .

Has the general location and distribution of existing and planned uses of land in very high fire hazard severity
zones (VHFHSZs) and in state responsibility areas
(SRAs), including structures, roads, utilities, and
essential public facilities, been identified?
YES PGS 47
FIG 11, Pg 48.

CASE Appendix A – CASE Appendix A
Hazards and Vulnerability Report– Figures
19-27
CASE Appendix C Multi-jurisdiction Hazard
mitigation Plan Annex G
Have local, state, and federal agencies with responsibility for fire protection, including special districts and local offices of emergency services, been identified?
YES Program FI-5.12: Implement the Community Wildfire
Protection Plan
City of San Luis Obispo Community Wildfire Protection
Plan (CWPP) page 21
Are other fire protection plans, such as Community
Wildfire Protection Plans, Local Hazard Mitigation Plans, CAL FIRE Unit or Contract County Fire Plans, referenced or incorporated into the Safety Element?
YES City of San Luis Obispo;
Emergency Operations Plan, LHMP, CWPP and CASE
Are residential developments in hazard areas that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes
identified?
YES CASE discussion pg 73
Figure 18 Limited Evacuation Route Areas
Pg 74.

Have evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and
viability under a range of emergency scenarios been
identified?
YES CASE discussion pg 73
Figure 18 Limited Evacuation Route Areas
Pg 74.

Appendix A Hazards and Vulnerability
Report– PGS 2-87- 2-106 and Figures 41-
49 and Table 21-22
.

Is there any other information in the Safety Element regarding fire hazards in SRAs or VHFHSZs?

5 GOALS, POLICIES, OBJECTIVES, AND FEASIBLE IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES The safety element must contain a set of goals, policies, and objectives based on the above information to protect the community from unreasonable risk of wildfire and implementation measures to accomplish those stated goals, policies, and objectives.

Instructions for this table: Critically examine the submitted safety element and determine if it is adequate to address the jurisdiction’s unique fire hazard. Answer YES or NO appropriately for each question below. If the recommendation is irrelevant or unrelated to the jurisdiction’s fire hazard, answer N/A. For NO, provide information in the Comments/Recommendations section to help the jurisdiction incorporate that change into their safety element revision. This information may utilize example recommendations from Sample Safety Element Recommendations and Fire Hazard Planning in Other Elements of the General Plan below, may indicate how high of a priority this recommendation is for a jurisdiction, or may include other jurisdiction-specific information or recommendations.

Section 1 Avoiding or minimizing the wildfire hazards associated with new uses of land Questions Yes or No Comments and Recommendations
Does local ordinance require development standards that meet or exceed title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7,
subchapter 2, articles 1-5 (commencing with section
1270) (SRA Fire Safe Regulations) and title 14, CCR,
division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3
(commencing with section 1299.01) (Fire Hazard
Reduction Around Buildings and Structures
Regulations) for SRAs and/or VHFHSZs?
YES POLICY FI-5.4: FIRE-SMART BUILDINGS

AND HIGH OR VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONES. PG 56
Are there goals and policies to avoid or minimize new
residential development in VHFHSZs?
No Recommendation: Create a policy to avoid or
minimize new residential development in VHFHSZs.

Recommendation: Create a policy to include areas
lacking two means of ingress and egress to meet
SB 99.

Has fire safe design been incorporated into future
development requirements?
YES
POLICY FI-5.4: FIRE-SMART BUILDINGS

AND HIGH OR VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONES PG 56
.

Are new essential public facilities located outside high fire risk areas, such as VHFHSZs, when feasible?
YES Policy FI-5.5: Wildfires and Critical Facilities Pg 56.

Are there plans or actions identified to mitigate existing non-conforming development to contemporary fire safe
standards, in terms of road standards and vegetative
hazard?
Policy FI 5.4 doesn’t specify to include existingnonconforming development.Policy FI-5.4: Fire-Smart Buildings and High Or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones Pg 56.

Program FI-5.13: Implement the Vegetation
Management Plan Pg 58
Does the plan include policies to evaluate redevelopment after a large fire? No Recommendation: Develop a policy to evaluate redevelopment after a large fire.

6 Questions Yes or No Comments and Recommendations
Is fuel modification around homes and subdivisions
required for new development in SRAs or VHFHSZs?
Program FI-5.13
Are fire protection plans required for new development in VHFHSZs?
Is this policy including new development in
VHFHSZz?
Policy FI-5.3: City-Wide Fire-Smart New
Development Pg 55-56
Does the plan address long term maintenance of fire
hazard reduction projects, including community fire
breaks and private road and public road clearance?
YES Program FI-5.13: Implement the Vegetation
Management Plan. Pg 58
Is there adequate access (ingress, egress) to new
development in VHFHSZs?
YES Policy FI-5.4: Fire-Smart Buildings and High Or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones Pg 56.

Are minimum standards for evacuation of residential
areas in VHFHSZs defined?
No Recommendation: Develop a policy that will define
minimum standards for evacuation of residential
areas in VHFHSZs.

If areas exist with inadequate access/evacuation routes, are they identified? Are mitigation measures or
improvement plans identified?
YES Figure 18-Limited Evacuation Route Areas Pg 74.

Program OP-7.15: Coordinated Emergency
Planning Pg 80.

Are there policies or programs promoting public outreach about defensible space or evacuation routes? Are there
specific plans to reach at-risk populations?
Are these specific to at risk communities? Policy FI-5.11: Proactive Communications on Fire Risks and Prevention. Pg 57
Program FI-5.16: Resident Information and Training
on Fire Hazards Pg 58
Does the plan identify future water supply for fire
suppression needs?
Will this supply flow be sufficient for peak and
emergency situations?
Policy FI-5.6 Maintain Fire Flow Pg 56.

Policy FI-5.7 Fire Suppression Infrastructure
Resiliency Pg 57
Does new development have adequate fire protection? YES Policy FI-5.9: Concurrency of Fire Protection Services Pg 57
Section 2 Develop adequate infrastructure if a new development is located in SRAs or VHFHSZs.

Does the plan identify adequate infrastructure for new
development related to:

Yes or No Comments and Recommendations
Water supply and fire flow?
Will this supply flow be sufficient for peak and
emergency situations?
Policy FI-5.6 Maintain Fire Flow Pg 56.

Policy FI-5.7 Fire Suppression Infrastructure
Resiliency Pg 57
Location of anticipated water supply?
YES
Policy FI-5.6 Maintain Fire Flow Pg 56.

Maintenance and long-term integrity of water supplies? YES Policy FI-5.6 Maintain Fire Flow Pg 56.

7 Does the plan identify adequate infrastructure for new development related to:

Yes or No Comments and Recommendations
Policy FI-5.7 Fire Suppression Infrastructure
Resiliency Pg 57.

Evacuation and emergency vehicle access? YES Policy OP-7.3: Emergency Access and Evacuation Pg 77
Fuel modification and defensible space?
YES Policy FI-5.4: Fire-Smart Buildings and High Or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones Pg 56.

Vegetation clearance maintenance on public and private
roads?
YES Program FI-5.13: Implement the Vegetation
Management Plan Pg 58
Visible home and street addressing and signage?
NO Recommendation: Develop a policy stating that
visible home and street addressing, and signage is
required.

Community fire breaks? Is there a discussion of how
those fire breaks will be maintained?
YES Program FI-5.13: Implement the Vegetation
Management Plan Pg 58
Section 3 Working cooperatively with public agencies responsible for fire protection.

Question Yes or No Comments and Recommendations
Is there a map or description of existing emergency
service facilities and areas lacking service, specifically noting any areas in SRAs or VHFHSZs?
YES CASE Figure 17 Pg 72
Does the plan include an assessment and projection of
future emergency service needs?
YES Policy FI-5.3: City-Wide Fire-Smart New
Development Pg 55.

Policy FI-5.9: Concurrency of Fire Protection
Services Pg57
Are goals or standards for emergency services training
described?
NO. Recommendation: Identify/describe goals and
standards for emergency service training.

Does the plan outline inter-agency preparedness
coordination and mutual aid multi-agency agreements?
YES Program OP-7.15: Coordinated Emergency
Planning Pg 80.

8 Sample Safety Element Recommendations
These are examples of specific policies, objectives, or implementation measures that may be used to meet the intent of Government Code sections 65302, subdivision (g)(3) and 65302.5, subdivision (b). Safety element reviewers may make recommendations that are not included here.

A. MAPS, PLANS AND HISTORICAL INFORMATION

1. Include or reference CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps or locally adopted wildfire hazard zones.

2. Include or reference the location of historical information on wildfires in the planning area.

3. Include a map or description of the location of existing and planned land uses in SRAs and VHFHSZs, particularly habitable structures, roads, utilities, and essential public facilities.

4. Identify or reference a fire plan that is relevant to the geographic scope of the general plan, including the Unit/Contract County Fire Plan, Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, and any applicable Community Wildfire Protection Plans.

5. Align the goals, policies, objectives, and implementation measures for fire hazard mitigation in the safety element with those in existing fire plans, or make plans to update fire plans to match the safety element.

6. Create a fire plan for the planning area.

B. LAND USE

1. Develop fire safe development codes to use as standards for fire protection for new development in SRAs or VHFHSZs that meet or exceed the statewide minimums in the SRA Fire Safe Regulations.

2. Adopt and have certified by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection local ordinances which meet or exceed the minimum statewide standards in the SRA Fire Safe Regulations.

3. Identify existing development that do not meet or exceed the SRA Fire Safe Regulations or certified local ordinances.

4. Develop mitigation measures for existing development that does not meet or exceed the SRA Fire Safe Regulations or certified local ordinances or identify a policy to do so.

C. FUEL MODIFICATION

1. Develop a policy to communicate vegetation clearance requirements to seasonal, absent, or vacation rental owners.

2. Identify a policy for the ongoing maintenance of vegetation clearance on public and private roads.

3. Include fuel breaks in the layout/siting of subdivisions.

4. Identify a policy for the ongoing maintenance of existing or proposed fuel breaks.

5. Identify and/or map existing development that does not conform to current state and/or locally adopted fire safety standards for access, water supply and fire flow, signing, and vegetation clearance in SRAs or VHFHSZs.

6. Identify plans and actions for existing non-conforming development to be improved or mitigated to meet current state and/or locally adopted fire safety standards for access, water supply and fire flow, signing, and vegetation clearance.

9 D. ACCESS

1. Develop a policy that approval of parcel maps and tentative maps in SRAs or VHFHSZs is conditional based on meeting the SRA Fire Safe Regulations and the Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations, particularly those regarding road standards for ingress, egress, and fire equipment access. (See Gov. Code, § 66474.02.)

2. Develop a policy that development will be prioritized in areas with an adequate road network and associated infrastructure.

3. Identify multi-family housing, group homes, or other community housing in SRAs or VHFHSZs and develop a policy to create evacuation or shelter in place plans.

4. Include a policy to develop pre-plans for fire risk areas that address civilian evacuation and to effectively communicate those plans.

5. Identify road networks in SRAs or VHFHSZs that do not meet title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 2, articles 2 and 3 (commencing with section 1273.00) or certified local ordinance and develop a policy to examine possible mitigations.

E. FIRE PROTECTION

1. Develop a policy that development will be prioritized in areas with adequate water supply infrastructure.

2. Plan for the ongoing maintenance and long-term integrity of planned and existing water supply infrastructure.

3. Map existing emergency service facilities and note any areas lacking service, especially in SRAs or VHFHSZs.

4. Project future emergency service needs for the planned land uses.

5. Include information about emergency service trainings or standards and plans to meet or maintain them.

6. Include information about inter-agency preparedness coordination or mutual aid agreements.

10 Fire Hazard Planning in Other Elements of the General Plan When updating the General Plan, here are some ways to incorporate fire hazard planning into other elements. Wildfire safety is best accomplished by holistic, strategic fire planning that takes advantage of opportunities to align priorities and implementation measures within and across plans.

LAND USE ELEMENT
Goals and policies include mitigation of fire hazard for future development or limit development in very high fire hazard severity zones.

Disclose wildland urban-interface hazards, including fire hazard severity zones, and/or other vulnerable areas as determined by CAL FIRE or local fire agency.

Design and locate new development to provide adequate infrastructure for the safe ingress of emergency response vehicles and simultaneously allow citizen egress during emergencies.

Describe or map any Firewise Communities or other fire safe communities as determined by the National Fire Protection Association, Fire Safe Council, or other organization.

HOUSING ELEMENT
Incorporation of current fire safe building codes.

Identify and mitigate substandard fire safe housing and neighborhoods relative to fire hazard severity zones.

Consider diverse occupancies and their effects on wildfire protection (group housing, seasonal populations, transit-dependent, etc).

OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION ELEMENTS
Identify critical natural resource values relative to fire hazard severity zones.

Include resource management activities to enhance protection of open space and natural resource values.

Integrate open space into fire safety planning and effectiveness.

Mitigation for unique pest, disease and other forest health issues leading to hazardous situations.

CIRCULATION ELEMENT
Provide adequate access to very high fire hazard severity zones.

Develop standards for evacuation of residential areas in very high fire hazard severity zones.

Incorporate a policy that provides for a fuel reduction maintenance program along roadways.

1 McClish, Teresa
From: Peri, Jared@CalOES <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 9:53 AM
To: Blattler, James; CalOES Mitigation Planning; LaMar-Haas, Victoria@CalOES Cc: McClish, Teresa
Subject: RE: City of San Luis Obispo Safety Element Update This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.

Good Morning James,
Cal OES has reviewed the Safety Element Update to the General Plan. Our office has a couple of comments.

The Safety Element addresses the following hazards: Earthquake, Extreme Heat, Flood, Wildfire, Climate Change, Geologic (Settlement, Liquefaction, Landslide, Dam Failure) When reviewing your FEMA adopted Local Hazard Mitigation Plan we find that the identified medium and high risk hazards are as follows: Adverse Weather, Earthquake and Liquefaction, Drought, Flooding, Wildfire
Below Is the link to the California Office of Planning and Research Safety Element Guidelines General Plan Guidelines, Chapter 4: Required Elements (ca.gov) Required Contents the safety element must, consistent with Government Code Section 65302(g), provide for the protection of the community from any unreasonable risks associated with the effects of:
• Seismically induced surface rupture, ground shaking, ground failure • Tsunami, seiche, and dam failure
• Slope instability leading to mudslides and landslides • Subsidence
• Liquefaction
• Other seismic hazards identified pursuant to Chapter 7.8 (commencing with Section 2690) of Division 2 of the Public Resources Code, and other geologic hazards known to the legislative body
• Flooding
• Wildland and urban fires
• Climate change
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment.

Jared Peri, Senior Emergency Services Coordinator

2 Hazard Mitigation Planning Division
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Mobile: (916) 524-3470
Email: [email protected]
Program Email: [email protected]
From: Blattler, James <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 11:09 AM
To: CalOES Mitigation Planning <[email protected]>; LaMar‐Haas, Victoria@CalOES <Victoria.LaMar‐ [email protected]>; Peri, Jared@CalOES <[email protected]> Cc: McClish, Teresa <[email protected]>
Subject: City of San Luis Obispo Safety Element Update
CAUTION ‐ External Email.

Hello Hazard Mitigation Planning Team,
I was referred to you by our Senior ESC Elise Arata with Cal OES. Our City is nearing the completion of our General Plan’s Safety Element update, which will be the City’s Climate Action Safety Element (CASE) upon adoption. I’m reaching out to you in hopes that you can review and provide any necessary feedback to ensure we are not missing any critical components before finalizing.

While there are a few minor punch‐list items that we’re getting finalized, the attached PDF is a nearly complete draft.

We have already presented the CASE to our Planning Commission once and will be bringing it back for a 2nd review on December 15th. Our target is to have the plan completed and adopted by City Council on January 17th.

On a final note, I was hoping you might be able to provide appropriate contacts at a few other State Agencies so we can ensure they have the opportunity to review:
 Governor’s Office of Planning and Research
 Cal Fire Land Use Planning
 CA Geological Survey of Dept of Conservation
I appreciate your assistance. Please let me know if you have any questions at all. ‐James
James Blattler
Emergency Manager
Fire Department
2160 Santa Barbara Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-5240 E [email protected]

3 T 805.781.7382
C 805.440.7448
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Revised Draft – For Internal Review and Deliberation

INITIAL STUDY

ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM
For Plan No. EID-0437-2022

1. Project Title: General Plan Climate Adaptation and Safety Element (CASE)

2. Lead Agency Name and Address:

City of San Luis Obispo
919 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

3. Contact Person and Phone Number:

Teresa McClish, Housing Policy and Programs Manager
(805) 783-7840

4. Project Location:

Citywide, City of San Luis Obispo

5. Project Sponsor’s Name and Address:

City of San Luis Obispo
Community Development Department
919 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

6. General Plan Designations:

All land use designations within the City.

7. Zoning:

All zones within the City.

8. Description of the Project:

The project is the Climate Adaptation and Safety Element (CASE) of the City’s General Plan. The CASE updates and replaces the existing Safety Element, which was adopted in 2012. The CASE would serve as the City’s Safety Element, which is a required element of a general plan under State law. It also implements State requirements for the Environmental Justice Element in accordance with State Guidelines.

The purpose of the CASE is to reduce the potential short and long-term risk of death, injuries, property damage, and economic and social disruptions resulting from wildfires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides, climate change, and natural and manmade hazards. The increasing severity of impacts of climate change is also a critical consideration in safety elements. State law requires that the safety element include a vulnerability assessment that identifies the risks posed by climate change and a series of adaptation goals, policies, and implementation measures designed to protect the community (Senate Bill [SB] 379, 2015). The CASE also identifies hazards and abatement provisions to guide local decisions related to zoning, subdivisions, and entitlement permits, and includes general hazard and risk reduction strategies complementary to those included in the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP).

CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO 2 INITIAL STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST 2022 The CASE describes the major hazards present in the city, and where appropriate explains how climate change exacerbates hazards. The types of hazards discussed are: flooding, extreme heat, fire, earthquakes and other geological hazards, hazardous materials, electromagnetic fields, and city operations and emergency services. It then sets forth goals describing a future in which the City’s physical, natural, and social systems are resilient to and provide protection from these hazards.

For each hazard, the CASE establishes policies outlining the specific courses of action the City will take to achieve the goals, and programs the City will implement to carry out the policies.

9. Project Entitlements:

Adoption of the CASE by the City Council

10. Surrounding Land Uses and Settings:

Citywide

11. Have California Native American tribes traditionally and culturally affiliated with the project area requested consultation pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.3.1? If so, is there a plan for consultation that includes, for example, the determination of significance of impacts to tribal cultural resources, procedures regarding confidentiality, etc.?
On August 8, 2022, Native American tribes that have a cultural or traditional affiliation to the area were formally noticed that an Initial Study of Environmental Review was being completed for the CASE. None of the noticed tribes requested consultation pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.3.1.

12. Other public agencies whose approval is required:

None

13. Use of this Document
The CASE is a policy document and does not directly authorize any physical development or improvements. Any future physical improvements would be subject to separate environmental review on a project-specific basis, in accordance with the provisions of CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines.

The evaluation of environmental impacts in this IS/ND focuses on analysis of policies and programs of the CASE that, when implemented, would have the potential to result in changes to the existing physical environment. Policies and programs that clearly would have no potential to result in physical environmental changes, such policies and programs that direct the City to conduct a study, coordinate with other public agencies, incorporate data or projections into other planning documents, engage with or provide information to residents or businesses, or make reference to existing, ongoing City initiatives, are not discussed in the environmental impact evaluation.