AGENDA Robert Parkhurst, Mayor
SPECIAL MEETING Kristine Lowe, Mayor Pro Tem
SIERRA MADRE CITY COUNCIL Edward Garcia, Council Member Gene Goss, Council Member
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 Kelly Kriebs, Council Member
5:30 pm
Sue Spears, City Treasurer
Sierra Madre City Hall
City Council Chambers
232 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard CITY
Sierra Madre, California 91024
SAREA MAS
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CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Parkhurst, Mayor Pro Tem Lowe, Council Member Garcia, Council Member Goss, Council Member Kriebs
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INSPIRATION
Mayor Parkhurst
APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
Vote of the City Council to proceed with City business.
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ACTION ITEMS
Regardless of staff recommendation on any agenda item, the City Council will consider such matters, including action to approve, conditionally approve, reject, or continue such item.
DISCUSSION
1. CONSIDERATION OF SUPPORT FOR SB 90 -
SAFE DRINKING WATER, WILDFIRE PREVENTION, DROUGHT
PREPAREDNESS, AND CLEAN AIR BOND ACT OF 2024
It is recommended that the City Council support SB 90 and send a letter supporting SB 90 (Seyarto) to the state legislature, which now includes grant funding for backup electric generators for water reservoirs-an addition requested by the City of Sierra Madre.
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ADJOURNMENT
The City Council will adjourn to a meeting to take place March 11, 2025.
OA Robert Parkhurst, Mayor
ristine Lowe, Mayor Pro Te
elly Kriebs, Council Membe
Gene Goss, Council Member
Edward Garcia, Council Member
RRA MAD City of Sierra Madre
Agenda Report
Sue Spears, City Treasurer
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jose Reynoso, City Manager
DATE: March 4, 2025
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF SUPPORT FOR SB 90 -
SAFE DRINKING WATER, WILDFIRE PREVENTION, DROUGHT
PREPAREDNESS, AND CLEAN AIR BOND ACT OF 2024
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council support SB 90 and send a letter supporting SB 90 (Seyarto) to the state legislature, which now includes grant funding for backup electric generators for water reservoirs—an addition requested by the City of Sierra Madre.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve a letter of support for SB 90 (Seyarto).
2. Direct staff to provide additional information before making a decision.
3. Take no action on this item.
SUMMARY
In January, the City engaged Townsend Public Affairs, our grant consultant, to identify funding opportunities for emergency backup power at city yard water facilities. Townsend contacted Senator Seyarto, who introduced amendments to SB 90—the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024.
Originally, SB 90 did not include funding for backup electrical generators for water reservoirs. However, at Sierra Madre's request, Senator Seyarto amended the bill to include grant funding for backup power emergency generators to supply water reservoirs.
FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
ANALYSIS
SB 90, as amended, would provide grants to local agencies, special districts, joint powers authorities, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and fire-safe councils for various wildfire and drought preparedness projects. The bill authorizes $135 million in grant funding for wildfire mitigation projects, structure hardening of critical community infrastructure, wildfire smoke mitigation, evacuation centers, including community clean air centers, structure hardening projects that reduce the risk of wildfire for entire neighborhoods and communities, water delivery system improvements for fire suppression purposes for communities in very high or high fire hazard areas, wildfire buffers, and incentives to remove structures that significantly increase hazard risk.
This bill will include in the list of eligible projects grants to the above-mentioned entities for improvements to public evacuation routes in very high and high fire hazard severity zones, mobile rigid dip tanks to support firefighting efforts, prepositioned mobile rigid water storage, and improvements to the response and effectiveness of fire engines and helicopters.
The bill will also include grants, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, to local agencies, state agencies, special districts, joint powers authorities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for backup electrical generators for water reservoirs.
Sierra Madre's support of SB 90 aligns with the City's ongoing efforts to improve fire preparedness and water resilience. During the Eaton Fire, the City relied on a rented emergency generator to maintain water pressure after power loss at the city yard water tacilities. Expanding access to state funding for similar infrastructure improvements will directly benefit the City and surrounding high-risk fire areas.
By supporting SB 90, Sierra Madre strengthens its position to receive grant funding and contribute to a statewide wildfire resilience initiative.
STRATEGIC GOALS IMPACT:
SB90 aligns with the City's Strategy Goal 3 PS 3.1 Maintaining Hillside Areas to reduce fire risk
FINANCIAL REVIEW / SOURCE OF FUNDING
There is no direct financial impact associated with approving this resolution. However, the City's support for SB 90 may enhance eligibility for future state grant funding.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Copies of this report are available at the City Hall public counter and at the Sierra Madre Public Library and can be accessed on the City's website at www.cityofsierramadre.com.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Letter of Support for SB90
City of Sierra Madre
PRA MAD
DRAFT COPY
March 4, 2025
The Honorable Kelly Seyarto
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Room 7120
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 90 (Seyarto) - Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024: Grants: Improvements to Public Evacuation Routes: Mobile Rigid Water Storage: Electrical Generators.
City of Sierra Madre - Co-Sponsor
Dear Senator Seyarto,
On behalf of the City of Sierra Madre, I express our sincere gratitude for your leadership on SB 90 and reaffirm our proud co-sponsorship of this critical legislation. SB 90 will provide much-needed funding for wildfire prevention, emergency preparedness, and water infrastructure improvements, including backup electrical generators for water reservoirs—a provision added at our request.
Reliable emergency power is essential to fire suppression efforts. During the Eaton Fire, the City of Sierra Madre suffered a power outage at our city yard water facilities, causing a halt in water pumping from local reservoirs. Unfortunately, our existing emergency backup generator failed, requiring the immediate rental of an emergency generator to restore water access. This water was critical for refilling reservoirs used in firefighting efforts. Without functional backup power, our ability to provide water for fire suppression, public safety, and emergency response is severely compromised.
SB 90 directly addresses this need by providing grant funding for backup electrical generators- ensuring that local agencies, like Sierra Madre, can maintain uninterrupted access to water during emergencies. This funding is especially crucial for small municipalities that depend on reliable electric power to pump and distribute water effectively.
Ensuring that cities like Sierra Madre have reliable backup power for water infrastructure will significantly enhance our resilience and ability to protect lives and property. 91398.1
For these reasons, the City of Sierra Madre strongly supports SB 90 and urges the Legislature's approval of this vital measure.
Sincerely,
Robert Parkhurst
Mayor
City of Sierra Madre
DRAFT COPY
232 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, Ca 91024 Telephone (626) 355-7135