FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 4, 2023
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
Prepared by: Fire Chief
SUBJECT: 2023 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopt a resolution:
1. Adopting the 2023 City of Santa Maria Hazard Mitigation Plan as an annex to the Santa Barbara County Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan; and
2. Directing staff to incorporate the 2023 City of Santa Maria Hazard Mitigation Plan into the Safety Element of the General Plan when it is next revised.
BACKGROUND:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires local governments to provide and maintain a Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). The Santa Barbara County Multi - Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is a countywide plan that identifies risks and suggests ways to minimize vulnerabilities and damage from natural and man-made disasters. The plan includes annexes from each city located within the county. The plan is a comprehensive resource that serves to enhance public awareness; acts as a decision tool for policy makers; enhances local policies for risk -reduction capabilities; provides coordination between the cities and the County; and promotes compliance with State and Federal program requirements.
Federal law, 44 CFR 201.6(c)(5) requires that the HMP be formally adopted by the governing body of the jurisdiction requesting approval. The State of California states that the HMP may be incorporated in the Safety Element of the General Plan per Government Code §65302.6(a). There is no requirement that the HMP be incorporated in the Safety Element at this time.
DISCUSSION:
The City began participating in the most recent update of the HMP in March 2021 as part of a countywide Mitigation Advisory Committee (MAC). The MAC was comprised of members of the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), County Fire, County Flood Control, CaIOES, Red Cross, and Emergency Coordinators from all 1 member cities and special districts. In addition, Santa Barbara County OEM hired an outside consultant to assist in the preparation of the plans.
The City participated in numerous meetings with the MAC and Santa Barbara County's contract consultant to develop a list of common hazards and objectives to mitigate those hazards. Once the common hazards were identified, each city was tasked with identifying hazards that were unique to their respective community, as well as potential mitigation actions they could apply to reduce or eliminate the threat each hazard posed to their community. The City's Disaster Planning Group, which includes representatives from each department, met to identify and discuss the hazards unique to Santa Maria; review previously identified hazards and determine if they should be removed or remain on the list; and discuss mitigation efforts that could minimize the impacts of those hazards.
In March 2021, a countywide online survey in both English and Spanish was released to solicit public input regarding the concern for risk due to natural hazard events and suggestions for how local governments could minimize the risks. The survey was open until September 15, 2021. Over 320 survey responses were received countywide and considered. The City's draft HMP was made available on the Ready SBC Multi - Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan website and was presented at several public workshops, including a draft plan review in March 2022 in English and Spanish on a Zoom meeting.
In August 2022, the City's update to the HMP (along with all agencies in Santa Barbara County) was sent to the State for its review. In October 2022, the City's HMP received endorsement from CalOES and was submitted to FEMA for final approval. Final FEMA approval is pending adoption of the HMP by City Council.
Adoption of the HMP complies with Assembly Bill 2140 (2005) and allows the City to qualify for additional disaster mitigation funding, including post -disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program project grants and future mitigation project funding awarded through the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, the Pre -Disaster Mitigation grant programs, and the U.S. Small Business Administration's low -interest, small business loans; all of which may not be available to jurisdictions without an approved and adopted HMP.
Alternatives:
The Council could choose not to adopt the updated plan; however, this would jeopardize the City's position for eligibility of any future disaster recovery and/or mitigation funding as law requires a current approved plan to be in place.
As a second alternative, the Council could provide direction to staff for revisions to the proposed plan update; however, this is less than desirable because the current draft has been reviewed and approved by both Federal (FEMA) and State (CaIEMA) staff. Any substantial changes would require resubmission of the plan for approvals resulting in additional expenses and delays in meeting the requirements. In addition, new requirements go into effect on April 19, 2023, for all plans not locally adopted by that date, 2 which could require substantial time and effort to update the plan, as well as require additional CaIOES and FEMA review time.
Fiscal Considerations:
Adoption of the HMP ensures continued FEMA project funding for mitigation projects identified in the plan. Future FEMA funding for pre- and post -disaster projects are also dependent on the adoption of this plan.
Impact to the Community:
The community will be better served as the revised HMP will enable the City to manage large-scale incidents/disasters using a coordinated and standardized process that is integrated with the Operational Area (Santa Barbara County) and State emergency systems.
BRADLEY J DANDRIDGE
Interim Fire Chief
Attachment A: Hazard Mitigation Plan
3 RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE 2023 CITY OF SANTA MARIA MULTI -
JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AND INCORPORATING IT
INTO THE CITY'S SAFETY ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN
WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires local governments to provide and maintain a hazard mitigation plan as described in 44 CFR 201.6(c)(5); and
WHEREAS, City staff developed a draft plan identifying hazards unique to Santa Maria, mitigation efforts, and methods to limit the impacts; and WHEREAS, in mid -2022 the City's draft hazard mitigation plan was made available for public review and comment; and
WHEREAS, the 2023 City of Santa Maria Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) is an annex to the Santa Barbara County Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP); and
WHEREAS, the HMP, as an annex to the MJHMP, was reviewed by and received endorsement from the State of California Office of Emergency Services; and WHEREAS, in February 2023, the HMP was received by FEMA pending adoption by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, adopting the HMP, enables the City of Santa Maria to qualify for additional mitigation funding after a disaster; and
WHEREAS, the State of California states that the HMP may be referenced in the Safety Element of the General Plan per Government Code §65302.6(a).
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, California, as follows:
1. The HMP is adopted as an annex to the MJHMP; and
2. The HMP has been found to have no significant effect on the environment, and is therefore exempt from the provisions of CEQA, General Rule Section 15061(b)(3); and
3. City staff is directed to incorporate the HMP into the Safety Element of the City's General Plan as permitted by Government Code §65302.6(a); and
4. The Chief Deputy City Clerk is hereby authorized to make minor changes herein to address clerical errors, so long as substantial conformance of the intent of this document is maintained. In doing so, the Chief Deputy City Clerk shall consult with the City Manager and City Attorney concerning any changes deemed necessary.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, California, held this 4th day of April 2023.
ATTEST:
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Mayor
City Attorney
APPROVED A TO CONTEN
Departm
City Manager