Agenda Item #15.3
For Council Meeting of: January 30, 2024
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PAUL LOWENTHAL, FIRE MARSHAL – FIRE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN, A WILDFIRE ANNEX TO THE LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AGENDA ACTION: REPORT
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Fire Department that the Council, by motion, accept the third annual report for the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, a Wildfire Annex to the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan in compliance with the Healthy Forests Restoration Act.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Following the fires of October 2017, the City prepared an application through a competitive grant process reviewed by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to perform an update to the LHMP. The focus of the application was to develop a CWPP that will become an annex to the Wildfire section of the current LHMP.
In April, 2019, City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Geo Elements, LLC for the development of a Wildfire Annex to the existing LHMP and the creation and development of a CWPP in compliance with the Healthy Forests Restoration Act.
This item relates to City Council 2023 Goal and Priorities 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 as the CWPP is intended to help Santa Rosa prepare to respond to future wildfire threats. Wildfires have had significant impacts on housing and the economy. The CWPP will work to mitigate risk and help with short- and long-term fiscal stability and economic resiliency. The CWPP takes into account the needs associated with climate change and is a public safety priority. Ensuring the CWPP targets our diverse community is critical.
On August 25, 2020, City Council accepted and approved the Community Wildfire Protection Plan as presented. The plan serves as a five-year road map to work to mitigate the risk of wildfires through the course of nine objectives and 46 actionable items.
Last year, the Fire Department reported that activities on over 40 actionable items and several have been completed. Through the third year, it was discovered that several items require additional work and/or maintenance to keep the activities current and/or relevant.
BACKGROUND
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires that State and local governments develop and adopt a LHMP to be eligible to receive federal grants pertaining to disaster preparedness.
This is the third of five annual CWPP reports being provided to council. An updated CWPP will be developed following the completion of the fifth year.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On January 10, 2017, the Council adopted the City’s current LHMP.
On August 25, 2020, Council accepted and approved the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
On September 28, 2021, Council accepted and approved the first annual Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
January 10, 2023. Council accepted and approved the second annual Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
ANALYSIS
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires that State and local governments develop and adopt a LHMP to be eligible to receive Federal grants pertaining to disaster preparedness. The updated LHMP assesses and responds to the City's vulnerability to natural hazards such as earthquake, flood, fire and drought.
FISCAL IMPACT
With the adoption of the LHMP, the City is eligible to apply for additional funding through Federal mitigation grant programs as well as to receive post-disaster recovery funding from the State of California should a disaster occur.
Departments may also seek to fund specific mitigation actions through future budget processes.
On April 27, 2021, City Council approved $5.25M from Pacific Gas and Electric 2017 Wildfire Settlement Funds for a five-year vegetation management program. $250K of the funds are to be set aside for the development of an updated CWPP. A CWPP must be updated after five years.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment and therefore is not subject to CEQA.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – 2023 Annual Report
Attachment 2 – Community Wildfire Protection Plan
PRESENTER
Paul Lowenthal, Division Chief Fire Marshal
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN A WILDFIRE ANNEX TO THE LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN PAGE 3 OF 4