<<PROJECT NAME>> 53 Spec. No. XX-XX
Article II. Contract Prices.
That the City shall pay the Contractor the prices stated in the proposal submitted by the Contractor, for complete performance of the contract by the Contractor. The Contractor hereby agrees to accept the prices as full compensation for all material and appliances necessary to the work, for all labor and use of tools and other implements necessary to execute the work contemplated in this contract; for all loss or damage arising out of the nature of the work or from the action of the elements, or from any unforeseen obstructions or difficulties which may be encountered in the prosecution of the work; for all risks of every description connected therewith; for all expenses of the work, as herein specified; for all liability and other insurance, for all overhead and other expenses incident to the work; all according to the Contract Drawings, the Special Provisions, the Details, the instructions and the requirements of the City.
Article III. Labor Discrimination.
Attention is directed to Section 1735 of the Labor Code, which reads as follows:
"No discrimination shall be made in the employment of persons upon public works because of the race, color, national origin or ancestry, or religion of such persons and every contractor for public works violating this section is subject to all the penalties imposed for a violation of this chapter." In connection with the performance of work under this contract, the Contractor agrees as follows:
(a) The Contractor will not willfully discriminate against any employee or an applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, ancestry, or national origin. The Contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, or national origin. Such action shall include, but not be limited to, the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. The Contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, notices to be provided by the awarding authority setting forth the provisions of this Fair Employment Practice section. (b) The Contractor will send to each labor union or representative of workers with which he or she has a collective bargaining agreement or other contract or understanding, a notice, to be provided by the awarding authority, advising the said labor union or worker's representative of the Contractor's commitments under this section, to employees and applicants for employment. (c) The Contractor will permit access to his or her records of employment, employment advertisements, application forms and other pertinent data and records by the Fair Employment Practices Commission, City of Ukiah or any other appropriate agency of the State of California designated by the awarding authority, for the purposes of investigation to ascertain compliance with the Fair Employment Practices section of this contract. (d) A finding of willful violation of the Fair Employment Practices section of this Contract or of the Fair Employment Practices Act shall be regarded by the awarding authority as a basis for determining the Contractor to be not a "responsible bidder" as to future contracts for which such Contractor may submit bids, for revoking the Contractor's pre-qualification rating, if any and for refusing to establish, reestablish or renew a pre-qualification rating for the Contractor.
The City of Ukiah shall deem a finding of willful receipt of written notice from the Fair Employment Practices Act to have occurred upon that it has investigated and determined that the Contractor
<<PROJECT NAME>> 54 Spec. No. XX-XX
has violated the Fair Employment Practices Act and has issued an order under Labor Code Section 1426 or obtained an injunction under Labor Code Section 1429.
Upon receipt of such written notice from the Fair Employment Practices Commission, the City shall notify the Contractor that unless he or she demonstrates to the satisfaction of the awarding authority within a stated period that the violation has been corrected, his or her pre-qualification rating will be revoked at the expiration of such period. (e) The Contractor agrees that should the City determine that the Contractor has not complied with the Fair Employment Practices section of this Contract, then pursuant to Labor Code Section 1735 and 1775 the Contractor shall, as a penalty to the City, forfeit for each calendar day or portion thereof, for each person who was denied employment as a result of such non-compliance, the penalties provided in the Labor Code for violation of prevailing wage rates. Such monies may be recovered from the Contractor. The City may deduct any such damages from any monies due the Contractor. (f) Nothing contained in this Fair Employment Practices section shall be construed in any manner of fashion so as to prevent the City or the State of California from pursuing any other remedies that may be available at law.
(g) Prior to awarding the Contract, the Contractor shall certify to the awarding authority that he or she has or will meet the following standards for affirmative compliance, which shall be evaluated in each case by the awarding authority:
(1) The Contractor shall provide evidence, as required by the City that he or she has notified all supervisors, foremen and other personnel officers in writing of the content of the anti-discrimination clause and their responsibilities under it.
(2) The Contractor shall provide evidence, as required by the City, that he or she has notified all sources of employees’ referrals (including unions, employment agencies, advertisements, Department of Employment) of the content of the anti-discrimination clause. (3) The Contractor shall file a basic compliance report, as required by the City. Willfully false statements made in such reports shall be punishable as provided by law. The compliance report shall also spell out the sources of the work force and who has the responsibility for determining whom to hire, or whether or not to hire.
(4) Personally, or through his or her representatives, the Contractor shall, through negotiations with the unions with whom he or she has agreements, attempt to develop an agreement which will:
a. Spell out responsibilities for nondiscrimination in hiring, referral, upgrading and training. b. Otherwise implement an affirmative anti-discrimination program in terms of the unions' specific areas of skill and geography to the end that qualified minority workers will be available and given and equal opportunity for employment.
(5) The Contractor shall notify the City of opposition to the anti-discrimination clause by individuals, firms or organizations during the period of its pre-qualification. (h) The Contractor will include the provisions of the foregoing paragraphs 1 through 5 in every first tier subcontract so that such provisions will be binding upon each such subcontractor. (i) The "Fair Employment Practices Certification" must be completed and signed prior to the time of submitting the bid.
<<PROJECT NAME>> 55 Spec. No. XX-XX
Article IV. Parts of the Contract.
That the complete contract consists of the following documents, all of which shall be considered a part of this agreement.
1. Notice to Bidders
2. Wage Rates
3. General Conditions
4. Technical Specifications
5. Proposal
6. Fair Employment Practices Certification
7. Agreement
8. Contract Bonds
9. Contract Drawings and Construction Details
10. Standard Drawings
11. Indemnification Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this contract being executed in duplicate and the parties having caused their names to be signed by authority of their duly authorized office this _____ day of _____________, 20____.
CITY OF UKIAH, MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
By: ______________________________________________________________
CITY MANAGER, CITY OF UKIAH
Attest: ______________________________________________________________
CITY CLERK, CITY OF UKIAH
By: ______________________________________________________________
CONTRACTOR
Attest: ______________________________________________________________ Title: ______________________________________________________________ The foregoing contract is approved as to form and legality this ______ day of ______________, 20 ____. __________________________________________________
CITY ATTORNEY, CITY OF UKIAH
<<PROJECT NAME>> 56 Spec. No. XX-XX
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement is made and entered in Ukiah, California, on _________________, 20____, by and between the City of Ukiah (Ukiah) and ______________________________________ (Contractor).
Contractor is
_________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________ for Ukiah.
As a condition of issuing the work order, attached hereto, Ukiah requires assurance that Contractor will protect Ukiah from damage or damage claims which arise from its performance of the work.
Accordingly, Contractor agrees as follows:
1. Indemnification. Contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless Ukiah and its officers, agents, and employees from and against any claim, loss, or damage, including the legal and other costs of defending against any claim of damage or loss which arises out of the Contractor’s negligent or wrongful performance under the work order attached hereto, except for claims, losses, or damages resulting from the sole and exclusive negligence or other wrongful conduct of Ukiah or its officers, agents and employees.
CONTRACTOR
BY: _______________________________________________
TITLE: _______________________________________________
<<PROJECT NAME>> 57 Spec. No. XX-XX
CITY OF UKIAH
Mendocino County, California
PERFORMANCE BOND
BOND No._____________________
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PREESNTS:
THAT WHEREAS, the City of Ukiah, organized and operating under the laws of the State of California, (hereinafter referred to as the “City”) has awarded to ______________________________, (hereinafter referred to as the “Contractor”) an agreement for Contract No. _______________ (hereinafter referred to as the “Project”).
WHEREAS, the work to be performed by the Contractor is more particularly set forth in the Contract for the Project dated _______________________, (hereinafter referred to, together with all attachments and exhibits thereto, as “Contract Documents”), the terms and conditions of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference; and
WHEREAS, the Contractor is required by the Contract Documents to perform the terms thereof and to furnish a bond for the faithful performance of said Contract Documents.
NOW, THEREFORE, we, __________________________, the undersigned Contractor and _________________________, as Surety, a corporation organized and duly authorized to transact business under the laws of the State of California, are held firmly bound until the City in the sum of ______________________________ ($_________________), for which amount well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs ,executors and administrators, successors and assigns, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents.
THE CONDITION OF THIS OBLIGATION IS SUCH that, if the Contractor, his or its heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns, shall in all things stand to and abide by, and well and truly keep and perform the covenants, conditions and agreements in the Contract Documents and any alteration thereof made as therein provided, on its part, to be kept and performed at the time and in the manner therein specified, and in all respects according to their intent and meaning; and shall faithfully fulfill all obligations; and shall indemnify and save harmless the City, its officials, officers, employees, and authorized volunteers, as stipulated in said Contract Documents, then this obligation shall become null and void; otherwise it shall be and remain in full force and effect.
As part of the obligation secured hereby and in addition to the face amount specified therefore, there shall be included costs and reasonable expenses and fees including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the City in enforcing such obligation.
As a condition precedent to the satisfactory completion of the Contract Documents, unless otherwise provided for in the Contract Documents, the above obligation shall hold good for a period of one (1) year after the acceptance of the work by the City, during which time if Contractor shall fail to make full, complete, and satisfactory repair and replacements and totally protect the City from loss or damage resulting from or caused by defective materials or faulty workmanship. The obligations of Surety hereunder shall continue so long as any obligation of Contractor remains. Nothing herein shall limit the City’s rights or the Contractor or Surety’s obligations under the Contract Documents, law or equity, including, but not limited to, California Code of Civil Procedure Section 337.15.
Whenever Contractor shall be, and is declared by the City to be, in default under the Contract Documents, the Surety shall remedy the default pursuant to the Contract Documents, or shall promptly, at the City’s option:
i. Take over and complete the Project in accordance with all terms and conditions in the Contract Documents; or
<<PROJECT NAME>> 58 Spec. No. XX-XX
ii. Obtain a bid or bids for completing the Project in accordance with all terms and conditions in the Contract Documents and upon determination by Surety of the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, arrange for a contract between such bidder, the Surety and the City, and make available as work progresses sufficient funds to pay the cost of completion of the Project, less the balance of the contract price, including other costs and damages for which Surety may be liable. The term “balance of the contract price” as used in this paragraph shall mean the total amount payable to Contractor by the City under the Contract and any modification thereto, less any amount previously paid by the City to the Contractor and any other set offs pursuant to the Contract Documents. iii. Permit the City to complete the Project in any manner consistent with California law and make available as work progresses sufficient funds to pay the cost of completion of the Project, less the balance of the contract price, including other costs and damages for which Surety may be liable. The term “balance of the contract price” as used in this paragraph shall mean the total amount payable to Contractor by the City under the Contract and any modification thereto, less any amount previously paid by the City to the Contractor and any other set offs by the City pursuant to the Contract Documents.
Surety expressly agrees that the City may reject any contractor or subcontractor which may be proposed by Surety in fulfillment of its obligations in the event of default by the Contractor.
Surety shall not utilize Contractor in completing the Project nor shall Surety accept a bid from Contractor for completion of the Project if the City, when declaring the Contractor in default, notifies Surety of the City’s objection to Contractor’s further participation in the completion of the Project.
The Surety, for value received, hereby stipulates and agrees that no change, extension of time, alteration or addition to the terms of the Contract Documents or to the Project to be performed thereunder shall in any way affect its obligation on this bond, and it does hereby waive notice of any such change, extension of time, alteration or addition to the terms of the Contract Documents or to the Project. [REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
<<PROJECT NAME>> 59 Spec. No. XX-XX
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and seals this ____ day of ___________________, 2022.
(Corporate Seal) ________________________________
Contractor/Principal
By______________________________
Title_____________________________
(Corporate Seal) _________________________________
Surety
By_______________________________
Attorney-in-Fact
(Attach Attorney-in Fact Certificate) Title______________________________ The rate of premium on this bond is __________________ per thousand. The total amount of premium charges is $_________________________.
(The above must be filled in by corporate attorney.)
THIS IS A REQUIRED FORM.
Any claims under this bond may be addressed to:
(Name and Address of Surety) ________________________________ ________________________________
________________________________
(Name and Address of Agent or ________________________________ Representative for service of process in ________________________________ California, if different from above) ________________________________ (Telephone number of Surety and Agent _______________________________ or Representative for service of process in California)
<<PROJECT NAME>> 60 Spec. No. XX-XX
CITY OF UKIAH
Mendocino County, California
PAYMENT BOND
BOND No. ____________________
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS:
WHEREAS, the City of Ukiah (“City”) has awarded to _______________________ (“Contractor/Principal”) a contract (City Agreement No. _____________, dated _________________, ___________, referred to as the “Agreement”) for the work described as _______________________. The Agreement is incorporated by this reference into this Payment Bond (“Bond”); and
WHEREAS, Contractor/Principal is required to furnish a bond in connection with the Agreement and pursuant to California Civil Code section 9550;
NOW, THEREFORE, we ____________________________________________, the undersigned Contractor/Principal, and _____________________ (“Surety”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of _____________________, and duly authorized to transact business under the laws of the State of California, as Surety, are held firmly bound until the City, and to any and all persons, companies, or corporations entitled by law to file stop payment notices under California Civil Code Section 9100, or any person, company, or corporation entitled to make a claim on this bond, in the sum of $_________________________, for which payment will and truly be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, successors and assigns, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents.
THE CONDITION OF THIS OBLIGATION IS SUCH that if Contractor/Principal, its heirs, executors, administrators, successors, or assigns, or subcontractor, shall fail to pay any person or persons named in Civil Code section 9100; or fail to pay for any materials, provisions, or other supplies, used in, upon, for , or about the performance of the work contracted to be done, or for any work or labor thereon of any kind, or for amounts due under the Unemployment Insurance Code, with respect to work or labor thereon of any kind; or shall fail to deduct, withhold, and pay over to the Employment Development Department, any amounts required to be deducted, withheld, and paid over by Unemployment Insurance Code Section 13020 with respect to work and labor thereon of any kind, then Surety will pay for the same, in an amount not exceeding the amount herein above set forth, and in the event suit is brought upon this bond, also will pay such reasonable attorneys’ fees as shall be fixed by the court, awarded and taxed as provided in California Civil Code Section 9550, et seq.
It is further stipulated and agreed that the Surety of this bond shall not be exonerated or released from the obligation of the bond by any change, extension of time for performance, addition, alteration or modification in, to, or of any contract, plans, or specifications, or agreement pertaining or relating to any scheme or work of improvement herein above described; or pertaining or relating to the furnishing of labor, materials, or equipment therefor; nor by any change or modification of any terms of payment or extension of time for payment pertaining or relating to any scheme or work of improvement herein above described; nor by any rescissions or attempted rescission of the contract, agreement or bond; nor by any conditions precedent or subsequent in the bond attempting to limit the right of recovery of claimants otherwise entitled to recover under any such contract or agreement or under the bond; nor by any fraud practiced by any person other than the claimant seeking to recover on the bond; and that this bond be construed most strongly against the Surety and in favor of all persons for whose benefit such bond is give; and under no circumstances shall the Surety be released from liability to those for whose benefit such bond has been given, by reason of any breach of contract between the Owner and Contractor/Principal or on the part of any oblige named in such bond; that the sole condition of recovery shall be that the claimant is a person described in California Civil Code section 9100, and who has not been paid the full amount of his or her claim; and that the Surety does hereby waive notice of any such change, extension of time, addition, alteration or modification herein mentioned, including but not limited to the provisions of section 2819 and 2845 of the California Civil Code.
<<PROJECT NAME>> 61 Spec. No. XX-XX
Any notice to Surety may be given in the manner specified in the Agreement and delivered or transmitted to Surety as follows:
Attn:__________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________
City/State/Zip:___________________________________
Phone:_________________________________________
Fax:___________________________________________
Email:__________________________________________
IN WITNESS WHEREO, two identical counterparts of this Bond, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed an original thereof, have been duly executed by Contractor/Principal and Surety above named, on the __ day of ____________________, 202__.
__________________________________ (SEAL)
Contractor/Principal
By_____________________________________
Contractor’s Representative
______________________________________
Contractor/Principal’s Address
______________________________________
City,State,Zip
_________________________________(SEAL)
Surety
By_____________________________________
Surety’s Representative
______________________________________
Surety’s Address
______________________________________
City,State,Zip
______________________________________
Telephone Number
NOTE: Signatures of those executing for Surety must be properly acknowledged, The bond must be accompanied by a properly acknowledged Power of Attorney from the Surety authorizing its agent to bind it to this bond. A copy of such Power of Attorney must be in file with the City.
<<PROJECT NAME>> 62 Spec. No. XX-XX
DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF PERFORMANCE AND MATERIAL AND LABOR BOND
1. Individual sureties, partnerships, or corporations not in the surety business will not be acceptable.
2. The name of the Principal shall be shown exactly as it appears in the Contract.
3. The penal sum shall not be less than required by the Specifications.
4. If the Principals are partners or joint venturers, each member shall execute the bond as an individual and state his place of residence.
5. If the Principal is a corporation, the bond shall be executed under its corporate seal.
If the corporation has no corporate seal, it shall so state and affix a scroll or adhesive seal following the corporate name.
6. The official character and authority of the person(s) executing the bond for the Principal, if a corporation, shall be certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary thereof under the corporate seal, or copies attached to such records of the corporation as will evidence the official character and authority of the officer signing, duly certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, under the corporate seal, to be true copies.
7. The current power-of-attorney of the person signing for the surety company must be attached to the bond.
8. The date of the bond must not be prior to the date of the Contract.
9. The following information must be placed on the bond by the surety company:
a. The rate of premium in dollars per thousand; and
b. The total dollar amount of premium charged.
10. The signature of a witness shall appear in the appropriate place attending to the signature of each party of the bond.
11. Type or print the name underneath each signature appearing on the bond.
12. An executed copy of the bond must be attached to each copy of the Contract (original counterpart) intended for signing.
<<PROJECT NAME>> 63 Spec. No. XX-XX
CITY OF UKIAH
Mendocino County, California
DEFECTIVE MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP (MAINTENANCE) BOND
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,
That we, _____________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________, as PRINCIPAL and__________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________, as SURETY, are held and firmly bound unto the City of Ukiah as Obligee, in the penal sum of ___________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________($____________________), (5 PERCENT OF THE FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT)
to which payment well and truly to be made, we do bind ourselves, our and each of our heirs, executors, administrators successors and assigns jointly and severally, firmly by these presents.
WHEREAS, the said Principal entered into a Contract with the City of Ukiah dated_________________________
for _________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, said Contract has been completed, and was approved on the ______ day of ___________, _________,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CONDITION OF THIS OBLIGATION IS SUCH, that if the Principal shall guarantee that the work will be free of any defective materials or workmanship which become apparent during the period of one (1) year following completion of the Contract, then this obligation shall be void, otherwise to remain in full force and effect, provided however, any additional warranty or guarantee whether expressed or implied is extended by the Principal or Manufacturer only, and the surety assumes no liability for such a guarantee.
Signed, sealed, and dated this __________ day of ____________, 20_____. __________________________________________________(Seal) BY:_______________________________________________(Seal) __________________________________________________(Seal) Principal
__________________________________________________(Seal)
BY:_______________________________________________(Seal) __________________________________________________(Seal) Surety
N. State and Hwy 101 Joint Boring Project
Attachment 2
N. State and Hwy 101 Joint Boring Project
N. State and Hwy 101 Joint Boring Project
N. State and Hwy 101 Joint Boring Project
Item # Item Description Quantity UOM Unit Price Item Total 1 HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING INCLUDING
INSTALLATION OF CONDUIT
1375 LF $160.00 $220,000.00
2 TRENCHING, BACKFILL, COMPACTION FOR THE
INSTALLATION OF CONDUITS AT RISER POLES AND
VAULTS 142 LF $120.00 $17,040.00
3 2 INCH PVC SHD 40 CONDUIT 150 FT $12.00 $1,800.00
4 4 INCH PVC SCH 40 CONDUIT 240 FT $18.00 $4,320.00
5 6 INCH PVC SCH 40 CONDUIT 240 FT $20.00 $4,800.00
6 1.25" HDPE SCH 40 CONDUIT, orange, green,
blue Tri-Pack with tracer wire
3500 FT $15.00 $52,500.00
7 2 INCH HDD BORE GARD CONDUIT 1400 FT $12.00 $16,800.00 8 4 INCH HDD BORE GARD CONDUIT 3000 FT $22.00 $66,000.00 9 6 INCH HDD BORE GARD CONDUIT 3000 FT $25.00 $75,000.00 10 EXCAVATE, BACKFILL, COMPACT AND INSTALL FIBER
SERVICE VAULTS B48 (VERO and CDT TO PROVIDE)
4 EA $2,500.00 $10,000.00
11 EXCAVATE, BACKFILL, COMPACT AND INSTALL FIBER
SERVICE VAULTS B48 (CITY TO PROVIDE)
2 EA $2,250.00 $4,500.00
12 EXCAVATE, BACKFILL, COMPACTION AND INSTALL
UKIAH 575 VAULT (CITY TO PROVIDE)
2 EA $10,000.00 $20,000.00
13 REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ASPHALT CONCRETE 335 SF $30.00 $10,050.00 14 LANDSCAPE REMOVAL AND RESTORATION 1 LS $1,000.00 $1,000.00 15 TRAFFIC CONTROL 1 LS $10,000.00 $10,000.00
16 MOBILIZATION 1 LS $3,000.00 $3,000.00
17 DEMOBILIZATION 1 LS $2,000.00 $2,000.00
18 19
20 Total Bid
Amount
$518,810.00
8/7/2026
NORTH BID ESTIMATE
Hwy 101 State St Bore
City of Ukiah
Bid Opening: CITY ESTIMATE
Attachment 3
Agenda Item No: 12.a.
MEETING DATE/TIME: 10/7/2026
ITEM NO: 2026-1535
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SUBJECT: Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of a Resolution to Adjust the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rate and Establish a DC Fast Charging Rate.
DEPARTMENT: Electric Utility PREPARED BY: Diana Ramos, Electric Rate and Resource Analyst PRESENTER: Cindy Sauers, Electric Utility Director and Diana Ramos, Electric Rate & Resource Analyst
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution 2019-17 EV Charging Station Rate
2. 2026 Resolution with Appendix A
3. EV Charging Station Rates
Summary: In accordance with Ukiah City Code Division 4, Chapter 6 Sections 3950 through 3957, the City Council will hold a public hearing on October 7, 2026, to receive the City Manager's Report and consider the adoption, by resolution, of the proposed revised Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rate and creation of a DC Fast Charging Rate. Legal notices were published in accordance with City Code section 3953. The Agenda Summary Report and the City Manager's Report are to be considered the same report and have been amended hereto.
Background: The City of Ukiah Electric Utility is a publicly owned, nonprofit utility governed by the Ukiah City Council. The City Council provides oversight and direction for the Electric Utility, including the approval of rates and charges.
In 2019, the City Council approved an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Rate for City-owned EV charging stations available for public use. Resolution 2019-17 with the approved rate table included as Attachment
1. The rate was established at $0.21 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) with a non-charging parking fee of $3.00/hour. This rate applies to the City's only public EV charging station at the City's Parking Lot A on Oak Street.
Since the establishment of the EV Charging Station Rate, the City has sought opportunities to continue to invest in and expand its public EV charging infrastructure. In June 2026, the City began construction on an EV Charging Station Project that will expand the City's publicly accessible charging network to three additional locations in Ukiah.
The project includes a central EV charging hub in City Parking Lot C, located north of the Ukiah Library, as well as charging stations at Anton Stadium and Low Gap Park. The Parking Lot C hub will provide both Level 2 and DC fast charging stations, while Anton Stadium and Low Gap Park will provide Level 2 charging stations. In total, the project will add 18 new charging options for residents, visitors, commuters, and travelers.
The project is partially funded through a partnership with ChargePoint and the California Energy Commission's Rural Electric Vehicle (REV) Program, providing more than $700,000 in grant funding toward the City's expanded EV charging network. Upon completion, the City will own and operate the charging stations, which will remain publicly accessible.
Discussion: The City’s existing EV Charging Station Rate of $0.21/kWh was established in 2019 and only applies to Level 2 chargers and does not differentiate between Level 2 and DC fast charging. With the expansion of the City’s charging network and the addition of DC fast chargers, Staff reviewed the existing rate structure to determine whether separate rates should be established based on the level of service and the costs associated with each charging technology.
Level 2 and DC fast chargers provide different levels of service. Level 2 chargers are generally used for longer-duration charging and deliver electricity at a lower rate. DC fast chargers operate at substantially higher power levels, allowing drivers to charge their vehicles in significantly less time. DC fast charging also requires more costly equipment and supporting infrastructure and has different installation, operation, maintenance, and electricity-cost considerations.
As part of the rate review, staff evaluated the City’s costs to provide both fast charging and Level 2 EV charging service, including charging equipment and infrastructure, network subscription fees, ongoing maintenance, and other operating costs. Staff also reviewed rates at publicly accessible charging stations operated by private companies and other municipalities within Ukiah and surrounding communities.
The rate comparison found a variety of pricing structures, including per-kWh energy charges, hourly charging rates, session fees, parking charges, and idle fees. Among stations charging on a per-kWh basis, the rates reviewed generally ranged from $0.25 to $0.58 per kWh for Level 2 charging and $0.39 to $0.68 per kWh for DC fast charging.
When the City’s original EV Charging Station Rate was established, only Level 2 chargers were installed, and local EV adoption and charger use were relatively limited. The rate was therefore designed primarily to recover electricity and network subscription costs while keeping public charging affordable and encouraging use of the new charging infrastructure. Charger use has increased every year, yielding 44% cost recovery of all costs in 7 years.
Grant funding is offsetting a significant portion of the new infrastructure for the three charging sites. The Electric Utility’s required project contribution of $768,502.55 was funded through a one-time Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) allocation secured by Northern California Power Agency. The allocation consisted of unused LCFS funds redistributed from large investor-owned utilities to participating small publicly owned utilities, including Ukiah.
Although the LCFS allocation funded the Utility's project contribution, the Utility will remain responsible for network subscription fees, ongoing maintenance, electricity costs, and the future repair and replacement of the charging equipment. With the expansion of the City's Level 2 charging and the addition of the DC fast charging, both levels of service were evaluated to ensure the City's investment is recovered over time. The proposed rates were developed after considering these costs and the expected use of each type of charger.
Rates charged by other publicly accessible stations were used as a comparison to confirm that the proposed rates are reasonable and competitive.
Expanding the existing EV Charging Station Rate to include DC fast charging recognizes the differences between Level 2 and DC fast charging and provides a rate structure that more accurately reflects the cost of providing each service. The proposed rates are not intended to recover the entire cost of the charging infrastructure immediately but will increase the contribution made by users toward the cost of operating, maintaining, and ultimately replacing the equipment.
Staff recommends adopting a Resolution (Attachment 2) expanding the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rate table to include DC fast charging for $0.375 per kWh and increasing the Level 2 charging rate from $0.21 to $0.299 per kWh. The non-charging parking fee of $3.00 will remain unchanged and will apply to both rates. The $3.00 parking fee takes effect after a 30-minute grace period after charging is complete. The proposed rate table is included as Attachment 3. With Council approval, the revised rates will take effect immediately.
Recommended Action: Adopt resolution revising the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rate and establishing a DC Fast Charging Rate.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: N/A
CURRENT BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
PROPOSED BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
FINANCING SOURCE: N/A
REVENUE: Yes / No GRANT: Yes / No
PREVIOUS CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER NO.: N/A
COORDINATED WITH: Cindy Sauers, Electric Utility Director STRATEGIC PLAN (SP): SP 2B - Identify and/or develop funding for essential and vital infrastructure for the long-term.
GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS (GP):GP-A3 - Mobility Element
1 1
1 RESOLUTION NO. 2019- 17
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH ADOPTING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING RATE.
WHEREAS: The City of Ukiah (" City") provides electric utility services to residents and businesses in the City and the Ukiah Electric Utility is the City' s publicly owned electric utility with the City Council providing local governance and oversight; and WHEREAS: The City has operated the Ukiah Electric Utility for more than 120 years and the electric rates are based on the cost to provide service; and WHEREAS: The electric energy costs for the citizens of the City are significantly lower than rates charged to other residents of Mendocino County; and WHEREAS: In accordance with the Ukiah City Code Division 4, Chapter 6, Sections 3950 through 3957, the City Council will hold a public hearing on April 17, 2019, to receive the City Manager's Report on a proposed electric vehicle charging rate and consider adoption by resolution of the proposed electric vehicle charging rate. Legal notices were published successfully in accordance with Ukiah City Code Section 3953; and WHEREAS: This rate schedule is applicable to electric vehicle ( EV) charging stations that are available to the public and owned by the Ukiah Electric Utility; and WHEREAS: This schedule is not applicable to EV chargers owned by the City of Ukiah but not available to the public or those used by private residences or businesses; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ukiah hereby adopts the Proposed Electric Vehicle Charging Rate, as set for the in Exhibit A.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the rate shall be effective immediately upon adoption by this Resolution unless otherwise ordered by the City Council on April 17, 2019. The City Clerk shall cause the publication of this resolution in the Ukiah Daily Journal within 10 days following Council action on April 17, 2019, pursuant to the provisions of Section 3957 of the Ukiah City Code.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ukiah on the 17th day of April 2019, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Orozco, Brown, Scalmanini, Crane, and Mayor Mulheren NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
Kristine Lawler, City Clerk
CJI uaL Klt,t
a t --)
Maureen Mulheren, Mayor
ATTACHMENT 1
Exhibit A
Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rate EV1 ( Public)
This schedule is applicable to electric vehicle ( EV) charging stations that are available to the public and owned by the Ukiah Electric Utility. This schedule is not applicable to EV charges owned by the City of Ukiah, but not available to the public or those used by private residences or businesses.
Charging Energy Rate, $/ kWh 0. 2100
Non -Charging ( Parking) Rate $/ hr. 3. 00
Resolution 2019-17
ATTACHMENT 2
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH ADJUSTING THE
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION RATE AND ESTABLISHING A DC FAST
CHARGING RATE
WHEREAS: The City of Ukiah ("City") provides electric utility services to residents and businesses in the City, and Ukiah Electric Utility is the City's publicly owned electric utility with the City Council providing local governance and oversight; and WHEREAS: In 2019, the City Council approved an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Rate for City-owned EV charging stations available for public use, establishing a rate of $0.21 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and a non-charging parking fee of $3.00 per hour following a 30-minute grace period; and
WHEREAS: Since establishment of the EV charging rate, the Electric Utility sought opportunities to invest in and expand its publicly accessible Level 2 EV charging infrastructure and add DC fast charging; and
WHEREAS: Funding became available through partnership with ChargePoint and the California Energy Commission's Rural Electric Vehicle (REV) Program, providing more than $700,000 in grant funding toward the City's expanded EV charging network.
WHEREAS: In June 2026, the City began construction on an EV Charging Station Project that will expand the City's publicly accessible charging network to City Parking Lot C, Anton Stadium, and Low Gap Park, expanding the City’s Level 2 charging network at all three locations and adding DC fast charging at Parking Lot C; and WHEREAS: The City's existing EV charging rate applies to Level 2 charging and does not differentiate between Level 2 and DC fast charging, which provide different levels of charging service
WHEREAS: Staff evaluated the equipment, infrastructure, network subscription, maintenance, operating, electricity, and future repair and replacement costs associated with each level of charging service; and
WHEREAS: Staff determined that the existing rate for Level 2 chargers was insufficient to recover the cost of the infrastructure and ongoing expenses and a new DC fast charging rate would be required to ensure cost recovery for the high demand infrastructure and ongoing costs associated with fast charging; and
ATTACHMENT 2
WHEREAS: Based on these cost considerations, Staff recommends increasing the Level 2 charging energy rate to $0.299 per kWh and establishing a DC fast charging rate of $0.375 per kWh, while retaining the existing non-charging parking fee of $3.00 per hour; and WHEREAS: in accordance with Ukiah City Code Division 4, Chapter 6, Sections 3950 through 3957, the City Council held a public hearing on October 7, 2026, to receive the City Manager's Report and consider adopting revised Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rates.
Legal notices were published in accordance with City Code Section 3953; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ukiah hereby adopts the revised Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rate (Exhibit A), revising the Level 2 charging rate to $0.299 per kWh and establishing a DC fast charging rate of $0.375 per kWh, while retaining the existing non-charging parking fee of $3.00 per hour. The revised rates shall take effect immediately upon adoption of this Resolution and shall supersede the existing EV Charging Station Rate.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ukiah on the 7th day of October 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
_____________________________
Susan Sher, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Kristine Lawler, City Clerk
Agenda Item No: 13.a.
MEETING DATE/TIME: 10/7/2026
ITEM NO: 2026-1525
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SUBJECT: Status Report on the Emergency Contract with Diamond D Construction, LLC for Landslide Mitigation Work at the Pressure Zone 1 Water Storage Tank and Request for Authorization to Continue Work Under This Emergency Contract.
DEPARTMENT: Water Resources PREPARED BY: Darcy Vaughn, Assistant City Attorney PRESENTER: Jared Walker, Water Resources Director
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Reso 2026-65 - Approving Emergency Procurement for Water Tank in Western Hills
2. SHN-CityofUkiah-Proposal
Summary: Council will receive a status report on the contract with Diamond D Construction for the emergency repair of the Western Hills mudslide at the City water tank and consider approving continued work.
Background: In the winter of 2025, a landslide occurred on the ascending slope to the west of the Pressure Zone 1 water tank. This slide deposited material across the access road to the tank and against the tank. The material was removed, slope graded, and some measures were installed to prevent further slides. These precautions were only meant to be temporary to get the slope through the winter and to prevent further damage.
On September 16, 2026, City Council approved a Resolution approving the procurement without public bidding of additional construction services to repair the mudslide at the City water tank in the western hills (Attachment 1).
Public Contracts Code § 22050(c)(1) requires that the Council review this emergency action at each regularly scheduled meeting, until the action is terminated, to determine by a four-fifths vote whether the emergency conditions excusing competitive bidding continue.
Discussion: Diamond D was determined to be qualified to do the work. The contract with Diamond D is currently on hold. According to Diamond D, upon contacting its steel soldier pile supplier, the contractor was informed that the material originally quoted for the project had been sold. Replacement material was subsequently quoted with an estimated lead time of four to six weeks and an additional cost of approximately $20,000 due to tariffs, fuel and energy costs. To date, no materials have been ordered for the project.
At the City Manager’s request, Staff contacted the SHN Engineers (SHN) Geotechnical Team that conducted the onsite visit to determine whether SHN could provide a professional opinion regarding the soldier pile wall include scope and potential cost control measures. SHN provided a proposal (Attachment 2) in the amount of $2,500 to prepare a professional opinion document addressing the soldier pile wall.
The proposed contract with SHN is currently with the Purchasing Department and is being prepared for execution.
Once the area has dried after the 2026-2027 rainy season, further assessment and mitigation will be required.
No further work beyond the initial site remediation has been able to be performed.
To fully stabilize, this site will require a geotechnical investigation and development of a plan if found to be necessary.
Staff is requesting the Council's approval to continue using the emergency contract with Diamond D Construction, LLC.
Recommended Action: Review the emergency action for the contract with Diamond D Construction, LLC for landslide mitigation work at the Pressure Zone 1 water storage tank and determine, by a four-fifths vote pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22050(c)(1), that emergency conditions continue to require immediate action without competitive bidding and that there is a need to continue the emergency action.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: No
CURRENT BUDGET AMOUNT: 82127113.80230.18531: $148,580
PROPOSED BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
FINANCING SOURCE: Water Reserves
REVENUE: No GRANT: No
PREVIOUS CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER NO.: N/A
COORDINATED WITH: Jared Walker, Water Resources Director and Myles Fisette, Purchasing Manager STRATEGIC PLAN (SP): N/A
GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS (GP): N/A
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-65XX
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH APPROVING PURSUANT TO PUBLIC CONTRACT CODE SECTION 22050 THE EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT WITHOUT
PUBLIC BIDDING OF CONSTRUCTION SERVICES TO REPAIR THE MUDSLIDE AT THE CITY WATER TANK (PZ1) IN THE WESTERN HILLS
WHEREAS:
1. During a winter storm event on about February 5, 2025, a portion of the hillside in the Western Hills slid out, settling against the City water tank referred to as PZ1, or Pressure Zone 1; and
2. Concerned about possible damage to the City water tank, both from this slide and thepossibility of future slides, City Staff determined that emergency repairs were required; and
3. With damage caused to public property; and
4. These emergency repairs were intended to be temporary measures to stabilize the hillside during the 2025-26 rainy season and to prevent further damage to public and private property; and
5. Further stabilization of the hillside is required to prevent recurrence of the slide and the need for future preventable slide repair work; and
6. Undertaking the competitive bidding process for this work would likely delay commencement of the stabilization work until the onset of the 2026-27 rainy season; and
7. The atmospheric river events predicted for the 2026-27 rainy season would likely require the stabilization work to pause due to the impossibility of working in such weather conditions and, furthermore, would likely result in slope failure and accompanying public health and safety hazards without the completed stabilization work; and
8. Under Public Contract Code Section 22050(a)(1) in the case of an emergency, the City, pursuant to a four-fifths vote of the City Council, may repair or replace a public facility and procure the necessary equipment, services, and supplies for those purposes, without giving notice for bids to let contracts; and
9. Under Public Contract Code Section 22050(a)(2) before the City Council takes such action, it must make a finding, based on substantial evidence set forth in the minutes of its meeting, that the emergency will not permit a delay resulting from a competitive solicitation for bids, and that the action is necessary to respond to the emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:
1. Based on the foregoing recitals and information, the City Council finds that an emergency condition exists that must be repaired to avoid public health hazards that could result, if the repair work was put out for competitive bids in compliance with the procedures required by the Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Act.
Attachment 1
2. The City Council authorizes the procurement of construction services to repair the mudslide in the Western Hills and damaged public without providing notice inviting bids.
3. The City Council authorizes the City Procurement Officer to contract with Diamond D Construction to repair the mudslide in the Western Hills in the amount of $148,580.
4. Awarding a contract to repair damaged public and private property is categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act as a Class 2 categorical exemption, because it involves the replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity. (14 CCR §15302.).
5. The emergency action taken by this resolution shall terminate upon the City Council's approval of a certificate of completion for the mudslide and public property repair work .
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of September, 2026, by the following roll call vote:
Susan Sher, Mayor
ATTEST:
Araceli Sandoval, Deputy City Clerk
AYES: Councilmembers Rodin, Criss, Orozco, and Mayor Sher.
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Councilmember Crane.
None.
None.
SUSAN SHER ( Sep 17, 2026 10: 50:53 PDT)
SUSAN SHER
Phone: (707) 459-4518 Email: [email protected] Web: shn-engr.com 335 S. Main Street, Willits, CA 95490-3977
CIVIL ENGINEERING • ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES • GEOSCIENCES • PLANNING • SURVEYING Reference: 426000.002
September 24, 2026
Jared Walker
Water Resources Director
City of Ukiah
300 Seminary Avenue
Ukiah, CA 95482
Subject: Geotechnical Consultation for City of Ukiah
Dear Jared Walker:
Thank you for requesting a cost proposal and scope of work for geotechnical engineering consultation at the City of Ukiah water tank locations above Todd Grove Park and the golf course. SHN would be pleased to provide consultation regarding the slopes adjacent to the northern tank.
Scope of Work
SHN’s scope of geotechnical engineering associated with this project is expected to consist of the following:
Geotechnical Field Reconnaissance
• Visit the site with the City to view the areas of concern. This visit will be performed by a Geotechnical Engineer and Engineering Geologist.
• On-site meeting with City staff to discuss the proposed mitigation measure to capture fallen debris from the slope to protect the existing northern water tank.
Geotechnical Letter
• Preparation of a geotechnical letter presenting our professional opinion on the proposed mitigation measure to protect the northern water tank based on our visual observations of the slope behind the tank.
Assumptions
Cost estimating for the tasks above are based on the following assumptions:
• The geotechnical work above is considered complete upon receipt of the geotechnical letter. Additional consultation, attendance at meetings, or supplemental information will require additional time and fees and can be discussed at the time the needs are known.
Attachment 2
\\WILLITS-FS\P-Projects\Willits\2026\Promos\426000.002-Gen-Geo\PUBS\promos\20260924-CityofUkiahProposalLTR.docx Jared Walker
Geotechnical Consultation for City of Ukiah
September 24, 2026
Cost Estimate
The scope of work is estimated to cost $2,500. The work may be set up and billed as Time and Expense Not to Exceed or on a Fixed Fee basis, per preference of the City.
Schedule
The geotechnical letter will be provided approximately 1 to 2 weeks after a contract has been executed by both SHN and the City of Ukiah.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit a cost proposal for your project.
Sincerely,
SHN
Christina Tipp, PG, CEG
Regional Principal
CMT:amg
Agenda Item No: 13.b.
MEETING DATE/TIME: 10/7/2026
ITEM NO: 2026-1572
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SUBJECT: Receive Annual Report Regarding the City of Ukiah's Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan in Response to Sentate Bill 901.
DEPARTMENT: Electric Utility PREPARED BY: Cindy Sauers, Electric Utility Director PRESENTER: Cindy Sauers, Electric Utility Director
ATTACHMENTS:
1. City of Ukiah's 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Plan FINAL
Summary: Council will receive the annual report regarding the Electric Utility's Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
Background: In response to catastrophic wildfires in California, Senate Bill 901 (SB 901) was passed in 2018 requiring California utilities to prepare a Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP), have the plan independently reviewed, and submit the plan to the State. Utilities were originally required to review, revise, and resubmit the plan annually. However, Senate Bill 254 (SB 254) in 2025 changed the requirement for publicly owned utilities (POUs). It amended Public Utilities Code § 8387(b)(1) to replace the annual WMP submissions with submission at least once every four years, on a schedule set by the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board (WSAB). WSAB assigned utilities with overhead facilities in High Fire Threat District a two-year cycle.
Discussion: On December 4, 2019, Council approved the Utility's first WMP and received a report that resulted from the independent third party reviewer, Power Engineers, on June 17, 2020. The Utility reviewed and modified the plan yearly thereafter and selected Ukiah Valley Fire Authority as the subsequent independent reviewer. Additionally, the Utility coordinated with Traci Boyl, Senior Management Analyst, from the City Manager's office to ensure the WMP highlights the broader work the City does in relation to wildfire risk.
The Utility's WMP has benefited from regular review by Staff. However, following several years of internal updates, Staff felt it was an appropriate time for a consultant to take a fresh look at it. Staff contracted with Cloudfire, through NCPA's Support Services Agreement (SSA), to provide an update to the WMP and establish guidelines for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). The outside review was sought to test our assumptions, assess whether the WMP reflects current conditions and practices, and help prioritize improvements that will meaningfully reduce risk. California's recent debate on utility wildfire liability, including SB 492, which did not pass, reinforces the need for cities to understand and manage the financial exposure associated with a utility-caused fire. Refreshing the WMP and creating objectives PSPS guidelines is a practical step toward protecting the community and making well-informed decisions about future work.
Both Chief Buckingham and Traci Boyl reviewed the 2026 WMP and provided an email affirming the intent, mitigation efforts, procedures, and conformance with other City plans. Both provided email documentation with minor edits to the WMP that have been included in this revision (Attachment 1).
Recommended Action: Receive annual report regarding the City of Ukiah's Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan in response to Senate Bill 901.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: No
CURRENT BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
PROPOSED BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
FINANCING SOURCE: N/A
REVENUE: No GRANT: No
PREVIOUS CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER NO.: N/A
COORDINATED WITH: Sage Sangiacomo, City Manager; Justin Buckingham, Fire Chief; Traci Boyl, Senior Management Analyst
STRATEGIC PLAN (SP): SP 2A - Continue the development and maintenance of a comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan that considers the climate impacts of those improvements; SP 2B - Identify and/or develop funding for essential and vital infrastructure for the long-term.
GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS (GP): GP-A4 - Public Facilities, Services, and Infrastructure Element.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 1
Ukiah Electric Utility
2026
Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 2
Contents
1. OVERVIEW........................................................................................................... 5 A. Policy Statement........................................................................................ 5 B. Purpose of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan......................................................... 5 C. Organization of The Wildfire Mitigation Plan.................................................. 7
2. OBJECTIVES OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN .................................................. 8 A. Minimize Sources of Ignition ....................................................................... 8 B. Resilience of the Electric Grid ..................................................................... 8 C. Wildfire Prevention Strategies and Programs................................................ 9 D. Identifying Unnecessary or Ineffective Actions............................................ 11
3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................................................... 11 A. UEU Governance Structure ....................................................................... 11 B. Roles and Responsibilities for Plan Approval and Execution......................... 12 C. Coordination with Joint Pole Infrastructure Providers.................................. 14 D. Coordination with City of Ukiah Departments ............................................. 14 E. California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Standardized Emergency Management System ................................................................................ 15
4. WILDFIRE RISK AND RISK DRIVERS...................................................................... 15 A. Enterprise Safety and Wildfire Risk Methodology......................................... 16 B. System and Operational Risk .................................................................... 16 C. Topographic, Vegetation, and Climate Risk................................................. 17 D. CPUC High Fire Threat Districts ................................................................. 19
5. WILDFIRE PREVENTION STRATEGY AND PROGRAMS............................................ 21 A. Strategy – Vegetation Management............................................................ 21 B. Strategy - Enhanced Inspections ............................................................... 23 C. Strategy - Situational Awareness ............................................................... 23 D. Strategy - Operational Practices................................................................ 23 E. Strategy - System Hardening ..................................................................... 24 F. Strategy - Public Safety and Notification .................................................... 25 G. Strategy - Reclosing and Deenergization..................................................... 25
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 3
H. Strategy - Wildfire Response and Recovery................................................. 27 I. Strategy - Activate Complementary Programs ............................................ 27
6. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ......................................................... 27
7. RESTORATION OF SERVICE................................................................................. 27
8. EVALUATION OF THE PLAN ................................................................................. 29 A. Metrics for Measuring Plan Performance.................................................... 29 B. Monitoring and Auditing The Plan............................................................... 32 C. Identifying and Correcting Deficiencies In The Plan ..................................... 32 D. Monitoring the Effectiveness of Inspections ............................................... 33
9. INDEPENDENT AUDIT ......................................................................................... 34 APPENDICES................................................................................................................ 35 Appendix A: Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Prevention Program .........................................A1 Appendix B: Wildfire Risk Quantification Methodology.....................................................B1 Appendix C: Abbreviations and Acronyms.......................................................................C1 Appendix D: Cross-verification to Public Utilities Code section 8387. ...............................D1 Appendix E: Maps ......................................................................................................... E1 Figures
Figure 1. CalFire Severity Zone Map for Ukiah Area............................................................ 7 Figure 2. City of Ukiah Governance ................................................................................ 12 Figure 3. CPUC Fire Threat Map ..................................................................................... 20 Tables
Table 1. Wildfire Prevention Strategies ............................................................................. 9 Table 2. UEU Wildfire Prevention Strategies and Program Matrix ...................................... 11 Table 3. Program Owners .............................................................................................. 13 Table 4. WMP Strategy Leads......................................................................................... 13 Table 5. GO 95 Guidelines to Rule 35 ............................................................................. 22 Table 6. Ignitions Caused by Utility Equipment for Metric 1 .............................................. 30 Table 7. Wires Down Events for Metric 2 ......................................................................... 30
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 4
Table 8. Inspections Records and Maintenance for Metric 3............................................. 31 Table 9. Overhead Equipment Failures for Metric 5 ......................................................... 32
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 5
1. OVERVIEW
A. Policy Statement
Ukiah Electric Utility (UEU) has been operating its electric system for over one hundred years.
Public and employee safety are paramount in the operation, construction, and maintenance of the electric system. California Code, Public Utilities Code - PUC § 8387 contains the requirements for publicly owned utilities to prepare and present a Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP or Plan) to its governing body. The California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board has established a schedule that identifies the filing timeline for UEU’s next WMP as October 2, 2026.
The risk of wildfire continues to be a top concern for the community of Ukiah. The increased risk of devastating wildfires coupled with increased housing in and adjacent to wildland urban interfaces (WUI) requires Ukiah Electric Utility to continually evaluate operational procedures, construction standards, and refresh ways to improve safe and reliable electric service.
Portions of UEU’s electric system are in and adjacent to California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) designated Tier 2 High Fire-Threat Districts (HFTD). UEU’s overarching goal is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electric service to its community. To meet this goal, UEU constructs, maintains, and operates its electrical lines and equipment to minimize the risk posed by catastrophic wildfires to its electrical lines and equipment.
This document is Ukiah Electric Utility’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan developed in response to the requirements of SB 901, embodied in Public Utilities Code - PUC § 8387, and guides the efforts to reduce and track utility-caused wildfires.
B. Purpose of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan
This WMP describes the activities being implemented or considered by UEU to mitigate the likelihood and consequence of powerline-ignited wildfires. This Plan complies with the requirements of PUC § 8387 for publicly owned electric utilities and contains the programs, policies, and procedures UEU uses to manage wildfire risk in its service territory. The Plan is iterative, promotes continuous improvement year-over-year, and deploys leading industry practices in a prudent and reasonable manner.
UEU is a department within the City of Ukiah. For wildfire prevention and response, UEU coordinates withUkiah Valley Fire Authority (UVFA), the City of Ukiah Police Department (UPD), and the City’s Office of Emergency Management consistent with the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and applicable Incident Command structure. UEU retains responsibility for
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 6
electric system operations. The UEU WMP is supported by other City of Ukiah plans.1 UEU’s service territory is shown in Figure 1.
The goals supported by this Plan include:
• Minimize the likelihood and consequence of utility-caused wildfires, including minimizing risks to humans and property.
• Educate the public about wildfire dangers and steps to prevent or minimize the effects. • Maintain an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for coordination of information and resources.
• Reduce the potential for destructive actions of a fire, should ignition occur, utilizing fire pre-plans, ensuring properly trained, staffed, and equipped emergency response capability, and timely response to prevent the spread of the fire, • Ensure adequate resources to plan for potential incidents in high fire hazard severity zones within the City of Ukiah.
1 The City of Ukiah adopted an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in 2021 and the Building Community Preparedness and Resilience Program in 2019.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 7
Figure 1. Ukiah Electric Utility’s Service Territory
C. Organization of The Wildfire Mitigation Plan
This Wildfire Mitigation Plan includes the following elements according to PUC § 8387. A detailed mapping of the requirements is contained in Appendix D. • Section 2 - Objectives of the Plan
• Section 3 - Roles And Responsibilities for Carrying Out the Plan • Section 4 - Identification of Key Wildfire Risks and Risk Drivers • Section 5 -Description of Wildfire Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Strategies and Programs
• Section 6 - Community Outreach and Education
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 8
• Section 7 - Restoration of Service Following a Wildfire. • Section 8 - Metrics for Evaluating the Performance of the WMP and Identifying Areas for Improvement
• Section 9 - Independent Audit of the Plan.
2. OBJECTIVES OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
This section discusses the objectives and desired outcomes of the WMP.2 A. Minimize Sources of Ignition
The overarching objective of the WMP is to minimize the probability and impact of UEU’s transmission and distribution system as the origin or contributing source for wildfire ignition. To meet these objectives and to reduce wildfire impacts, UEU is continually evaluating prudent and cost-effective improvements to its physical assets, operations, and training. UEU implements cost-effective measures to protect the system and the public from utility-caused wildfires as staffing and budget allows.
B. Resilience of the Electric Grid
Another objective of the WMP is to improve the resilience of the electric grid. UEU assesses industry practices and technologies to reduce the frequency of a wildfire-related service interruption and to improve service restoration.
Other resilience efforts include mitigating vegetative fuels that threaten electric utility facilities and equipment, reducing the chance that lives or property will be lost due to wildfire. Improved fire coordination improves resilience and helps avoid the need for public safety power shut-off protocols during high fire threat conditions. Fuels reduction and improved fire response are incorporated into UEU’s Wildfire Prevention Program. CAL FIRE’s Severity Zone Map is shown in Figure 2.
2 PUC § 8387 (b)(2)(B) The objectives of the wildfire mitigation plan.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 9
Figure 2. CAL FIRE Severity Zone Map for Ukiah Area
Source: CAL FIRE
C. Wildfire Prevention Strategies and Programs3
UEU uses a combination of prevention strategies and programs as outlined below.
Wildfire Mitigation Strategies:
UEU’s wildfire prevention strategies are listed in Table 1 and described in detail in Section 5.
Table 1. Wildfire Prevention Strategies
Risk Reduction Initiative Description
Vegetation Management
To control vegetation near UEU overhead transmission and distribution lines according to clearance specifications, including fuels mitigation and related work to prevent the electric system from causing a fire and to protect the system from a fire.
Inspections and
Corrections
Infrastructure assessments, diagnostics, repairs, and
replacements to assure proper working condition and
support vegetation minimum distance specifications.
3 PUC § 8387(b)(2)(C) A description of the preventive strategies and programs.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 10
Risk Reduction Initiative Description
Situational Awareness Improve system visualization and environmental condition awareness with tools that guide components of the Plan.
Operational Practices
Actions to lower wildfire risks and ensure preparedness under wildfire-prone conditions, such as hot, dry, or windy
environmental conditions.
System Hardening
The ruggedized design of equipment, structures, and the system overall to prevent contact between infrastructure and ignition sources, such as vegetation and animals, and to reduce consequences should contact occur. Initiatives to make the system more resilient to wildfire and other natural disasters also inform the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan.
Public Safety and
Notification
Engage community partners and members in preventing and identifying wildfire risks, including outage notification for improved public safety.
Reclosing and
Deenergization
Include discussion of deenergization as well as circuit reclosing.
Wildfire Response and
Recovery
Procedures to address wildfire or other emergency conditions impacting the power grid, including formalized protocols for response and recovery.
Staffing and Staff
Training
Staff at appropriate levels and train staff for understanding and preparedness, that includes cross-training to build redundancies and succession planning for retirements and turnover.
Complementary
Programs
UEU Wildfire Prevention Program (Appendix A)
UEU Distribution Capital Improvement Program4
COU Emergency Operation Plan (EOP)5
Wildfire Mitigation Programs
The strategies are implemented through programs as budget and staffing permit. The following programs are coordinated as part of this WMP and are described in more detail in Section 5. • UEU Wildfire Prevention Program - Appendix A
• UEU Distribution Capital Improvement Program
• COU Emergency Response Plan (EOP)
4 https://stories.opengov.com/ukiahca/published/qDu2X5iGRN. 5 https://cityofukiah.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/City-of-Ukiah-Emergency-Operation-Plan.pdf.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 11
UEU Wildfire Prevention Strategies and Program Matrix is shown in Table 2.
Table 2. UEU Wildfire Prevention Strategies and Program Matrix Wildfire
Prevention Plan
5-year Capital
Improvement Plan COU EOP
Vegetation
Management x
Enhanced
Inspections x x
Situational
Awareness x x
Operational Practices x x
System Hardening x
Public Safety and
Notification x x
Reclosing and
Deenergization x x x
Wildfire Response and
Recovery x x
D. Identifying Unnecessary or Ineffective Actions
Another WMP goal is to measure the effectiveness of specific wildfire mitigation strategies. The Plan explores whether more cost-effective measures would produce the same or improved results as UEU continues to assess the merits of future modifications.
3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES6
Designation and coordination of roles and responsibilities is reflected in this section.
A. UEU Governance Structure
UEU’s WMP is supervised by the Ukiah City Council (Council) and implemented by the UEU Director (Director), as shown in Figure 3. The City of Ukiah, a general law city, has a City Council - Manager form of governance. The City Council is the Utility Commission for UEU. 6 PUC § 8387(b)(2)(A) persons responsible for executing the plan.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 12
Figure 3. City of Ukiah Governance
B. Roles and Responsibilities for Plan Approval and Execution Plan Approval and Public Input: UEU is governed by the Ukiah City Council. The Wildfire Mitigation Plan is periodically approved by the City Council at a public meeting. The public can review the Staff Report and Wildfire Mitigation Plan up to 72 hours prior to the meeting and provide comments in person or in writing. The City Council may adopt the Plan or provide additional guidance to Staff.
Executive Level Responsibility: The Director oversees implementation and ensure that staff follow procedures and protocols. Additionally, the Director, or designee, manages the execution of performance monitoring. This includes providing guidance to staff and leading the development of reports. The staff responsible for each metric area aggregates relevant metrics based on guidance from the Director.
Program Owners:
Table 3 shows the Program Owners and is subject to change.
Ukiah City Council
City Attorney City Manager
Utility
Operations
UEU Director
Technical
Services
Resources
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 13
Table 3. Program Owners
Program Owner
UEU Wildfire Prevention Program COU/UVFA Fire Marshal’s Office and UEU Director UEU Distribution Capital
Improvement Program UEU Director
COU EOP COU Office of Emergency Management
Coordinator
Strategy Leads:
Table 4 outlines the WMP Strategy Leads assignments and are subject to change.
Table 4. WMP Strategy Leads
Strategy Lead Personnel Key Technical Personnel
Vegetation Management Electric Superintendent Senior Electrical Engineer Enhanced Inspections Electric Superintendent
Electrical Technicians
Senior Electrical Engineer
Electric Superintendent
Foreman
Electrical Technicians
Situational Awareness UEU Director Senior Electrical Engineer Electric Superintendent
Operational Practices Senior Electrical Engineer Electric Superintendent System Hardening Senior Electrical Engineer Senior Electrical Engineer Electric Superintendent
Public Safety and
Notification UEU Director UEU Program Coordinator Management Analyst Reclosing and
Deenergization Senior Electrical Engineer
Senior Electrical Engineer
Electric Superintendent
Foreman
Wildfire Response and
Recovery Electric Superintendent
UVFA Fire Chief
Senior Electrical Engineer Line
Foremen
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 14
C. Coordination with Joint Pole Infrastructure Providers UEU takes the lead role for joint pole fire prevention and informs partners when compromised poles due to third-party attachments or other safety issues present. UEU coordinates with communication and electric infrastructure providers when work affects their equipment. If UEU discovers a facility in need of repair owned by a partner entity, UEU issues a repair notice to the facility owner and ensures that necessary repairs are completed in a timely manner. During emergencies, UEU assumes the primary role and informs providers when there is damage or risk to their equipment.
D. Coordination with City of Ukiah Departments
Ukiah Valley Fire Authority (UVFA) - The UVFA provides fire response expertise and coordinates fire-related public safety priorities with UEU through the applicable Incident Command structure.
Ukiah Police Department (UPD) - UEU coordinates with UPD on law enforcement, traffic control, and other public safety needs during emergencies. UEU works closely with the UPD for situational awareness and public safety related to the WMP.
Ukiah Public Works Department - UEU leads opportunities to harden the electrical system and increase survivability for traffic control, water and wastewater infrastructures. During wildfires and other public safety events, UEU works closely with Public Works to ensure power to water/wastewater facilities and other critical infrastructure. These facilities are critical for defending the City from wildfires and are essential for safe recovery following any disaster. The Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) is also a critical operation for emergency evacuations.
Ukiah Community Services Department - The COU Community Services Department is a key partner for the UEU Wildfire Prevention Program for fire fuels mitigation and other programs and projects.
Other COU Departments and Administration – As a member of the City of Ukiah team, UEU ensures information regarding warnings, alerts, and widespread outages are shared with other departments. The City’s Communications Team is an integral part of informing the media and the public. Communications are coordinated with the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator and any active Incident Command.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 15
E. California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Standardized Emergency Management System
The City conducts emergency operations consistent with California’s Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), the Incident Command System, the City’s Emergency Operations Plan, and applicable departmental procedures. SEMS is organized into five operational levels - field response, local government, operational area, regional, and state, scaled to respond to an incident.
The City manages emergencies within its jurisdiction and coordinates with the Mendocino County Operational Area when an incident requires multiagency coordination, regional resource support, or communication with Cal OES. During wildfire or electric-system emergencies, UEU coordinates with the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator, Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Ukiah Police Department, Dispatch Center, the Mendocino County Operational Area, Cal OES, utilities, public-safety agencies, and other response partners as appropriate.
UEU coordinates with the City Manager’s Office, the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator, the Ukiah Police Department and Dispatch Center, Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, and other City departments regarding wildfire conditions, emergency warnings, significant outages, potential de-energization, and restoration activities. Public and media communications are coordinated through established City communication protocols and, when activated, the applicable Incident Command or Emergency Operations Center structure.
During an emergency affecting the electric system, UEU maintains responsibility for electricsystem operations and provides technical information, situational updates, and personnel to support incident coordination. UEU may provide a departmental representative or liaison to the City Emergency Operations Center and coordinates with field Incident Command as appropriate.
4. WILDFIRE RISK AND RISK DRIVERS7
This section of the WMP identifies, describes and prioritizes wildfire risks and drivers found within UEU’s territory. In addition to the overarching enterprise safety and wildfire risk, risk drivers are organized into three categories: enterprise risk; system and operational risk; and topographic, vegetation, and climatological risk. These factors influence the likelihood of a utility-caused ignition and the potential for that ignition to spread.
UEU serves approximately 4.3 square miles within the City of Ukiah. Portions of the western 7 PUC § 8387(b)(2)(J) identify, describe and prioritize wildfire risk and drivers.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 16
service territory are located within the CPUC Tier 2 HFTD, encompassing approximately 10% of UEU’s facilities.
UEU engaged CloudFire to assess wildfire risk associated with its overhead electric system. The analysis evaluated wildfire risk at both the individual line-segment and circuit levels using modeled ignition likelihood and potential wildfire consequences. The methodology and results are presented in Appendix B. The following subsections describe the system, operational, and environmental risks and risk drivers identified as priorities relevant to UEU's wildfire mitigation planning.
A. Enterprise Safety and Wildfire Risk Methodology8
UEU evaluates enterprise safety and wildfire risk using information that includes historical outages, fire records, field observations, and coordination with other City departments. Outage categories with potential relevance to ignition risk include animals, birds, vehicle-pole contacts, vegetation, and overhead equipment failures. These events may result in conditions capable of producing an ignition, such as a downed or arcing conductor. UEU considers these risks and risk drivers in terms of whether they are controllable or uncontrollable to help identify where utility actions can reduce ignition likelihood or wildfire consequences and to inform the development and prioritization of wildfire mitigation activities in the WMP. UEU uses this information, together with operational experience and fire history, to identify trends and support ongoing risk-informed planning.
UEU designs and constructs its electric facilities to meet or exceed applicable federal, state, and industry standards. This includes GO 95, a key California design and construction standard for electric facilities, and relevant National Electric Safety Codes.
B. System and Operational Risk
Risk drivers associated with the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of UEU’s electric facilities include vegetation contact, overhead equipment, construction, maintenance, and operating practices. These conditions can contribute to the likelihood of a utility-caused ignition and are addressed through UEU’s design standards, inspection and maintenance programs, vegetation management activities, and operating procedures.
The quantitative wildfire risk analysis presented in Appendix B provides additional information regarding how wildfire risk varies spatially across UEU’s overhead system. The resulting assetand circuit-level risk metrics identify locations where a potential utility-caused ignition could result in comparatively greater modeled wildfire consequences. The analysis provides a spatial basis for identifying portions of the overhead system where wildfire consequences may warrant 8 PUC § 8387(b)(2)(L) methodology for identifying and presenting enterprisewide safety and wildfire risk.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 17
greater consideration and prioritization in mitigation planning.
Primary system and operational risk drivers include:
Vegetation Contact: Vegetation near UEU electric lines presents a risk for utility caused wildfires. Mitigation of this risk is done through routine tree trimming and inspections. UEU meets or exceeds the CPUC’s GO 95 Rule 35 requirements by increasing the radial clearance of branches to 6 feet throughout the COU and up to 12 feet in some areas adjacent to the Tier 2 HFTD.
Overhead Equipment: Overhead utility equipment can be the source of a utility caused wildfire.
Mitigation efforts include hardened design standards and periodic review of equipment for potential alternatives. UEU reviews design standards for equipment on a yearly basis for possible modifications.
Construction, Maintenance, and Operating Practices: Certain work practices or operations can increase the risk of ignition. To mitigate, during red flag conditions, Staff eliminates unnecessary activities that could result in a utility caused wildfire. Additional inspections may be performed during and after the conclusion of red flag events. UEU also uses defined operational criteria to support decisions regarding elevated wildfire conditions and potential de-energization. The applicable thresholds, screening criteria, and decision methodology are part ofUEU’s operating practices.
C. Topographic, Vegetation, and Climate Risk
Ukiah typically experiences cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers creating extreme fire weather conditions especially from May through October. Daily temperatures during fire season (June-October) can be above 90° Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of less than 30%.
Wind conditions throughout the year average 3-5 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph.
Vegetation within and surrounding UEU’s service territory includes redwood, oak, pine and fir trees, annual grasses, chapparal and other brush species. Dense brush and grasses can support rapid fire spread, particularly during periods of low fuel moisture and elevated winds.
Extended dry periods and drought can further increase fuel availability and contribute to tree mortality or declining vegetation health.
Topography is more varied along the western side of Ukiah. Steep slopes, aspect, and elevation can influence fuel conditions, local weather and winds, fire rate of spread, and fire intensity.
Portions of the western service territory are in a designated CPUC Tier 2 HFTD.
These environmental risk drivers are also represented in the quantitative wildfire risk analysis
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 18
described in Appendix B. The analysis incorporates historical weather conditions, topography, surface and canopy fuels, and potential wildfire consequences to evaluate spatial variation in wildfire risk across UEU’s overhead system. The resulting asset- and circuit-level risk maps show substantial variation in modeled wildfire risk and provide additional information for spatial prioritization of wildfire mitigation activities.
Primary topographic, vegetation, and climatological risk drivers include:
Topography: Steep slopes in the western portion of Ukiah have the potential to increase fire rate of spread and intensity. Topography is explicitly represented in the quantitative wildfire risk analysis described in Appendix B. A shaded fuel break was constructed along the base of the western hills along the length of the City to reduce fuel loads and help protect the community from wildfire.
Drought: Extended drought or periods of below average rainfall can increase dry vegetative fuel loads, increasing wildfire risk. Prolonged drought can also impact and weaken trees. The City’s vegetation management program identifies and catalogs tree information, including species, estimated age, diameter, and height. The program assesses diseased or dying trees and allows for removal. Routine visual inspections allow the Utility to remain aware of this risk factor.
Vegetation Type: The western hills area contains dense chaparral and mixed hardwood forest, including native species such as California Bay Laurel and Black Oak, with areas of poison oak, fern, and other understory vegetation. Surface and canopy fuel characteristics are represented in the quantitative wildfire risk analysis using LANDFIRE datasets reviewed against current local conditions.9 The shaded fuel break constructed along the base of the western hills reduces fuel loads and associated fire potential.
Vegetation Density: Vegetation density in high fire threat areas increases the risk and speed of which wildfire can spread. Increasing vegetation clearance from overhead power lines in high fire threat and adjacent areas lowers the risk of wildfire.
Seasonal Dryness: Periods of low relative humidity and elevated temperature can dry fine vegetative fuels and increase their receptivity to ignition. Fuel moisture and temperature are incorporated into the ignition-likelihood component of the quantitative wildfire risk analysis described in Appendix B. UEU monitors National Weather Service alerts, including Red Flag Warnings and other weather events that may affect the service territory.
Fire Weather and Wind: High winds and gusts can down trees, break branches, damage utility equipment, and increase fire spread following an ignition. Historical wind and weather conditions are incorporated into the quantitative wildfire risk analysis, which samples the 9 https://landfire.gov/
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 19
historical range of wind speeds and directions affecting the system. UEU monitors National Weather Service wind warnings, advisories, and Red Flag Warnings to inform operational decisions that reduce ignition risk. UEU has also established zone-specific operational thresholds for evaluating elevated wildfire risk and potential PSPS conditions. These thresholds are used as screening criteria to trigger additional evaluation rather than as automatic deenergization triggers. The thresholds and supporting methodology are part of UEU’s operating practices. The increased vegetation clearing in HFTD further reduces the risk of ignition caused by these events.
Fire History: Wildfire history within and surrounding the Ukiah city limits provides additional information regarding areas historically exposed to wildfire.
D. CPUC High Fire Threat Districts10
UEU incorporates the CPUC’s Fire Threat Map, shown in Figure 4 into its construction, inspection, maintenance, repair, and clearance practices. 10 PUC § 8387(b)(2)(K).
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 20
Figure 4. CPUC Fire Threat Map
UEU reviews the CPUC Fire Threat Map at least annually to identify adjustments to hazard threat levels due to changes in urban development and vegetative conditions. When adjustments are identified, UEU collaborates with Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, City Departments, and CAL FIRE to update the CPUC Fire Threat Map and UEU’s Fire Threat Map.
The UEU’s Fire Threat Map depicts the highest known fire threats.
The quantitative wildfire risk analysis presented in Appendix B complements the CPUC firethreat designations by evaluating risk at a finer spatial scale along UEU’s overhead electric system. Whereas the CPUC HFTD identifies areas of elevated wildfire hazard, the Appendix B analysis evaluates modeled ignition likelihood and potential wildfire consequences at the
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 21
individual line-segment and circuit levels. The results show spatial variation in modeled wildfire risk across UEU’s overhead system, including within and outside the CPUC Tier 2 HFTD, and provide additional information for prioritizing wildfire mitigation activities.
5. WILDFIRE PREVENTION STRATEGY AND PROGRAMS
This section describes the strategies and programs deployed by UEU for wildfire mitigation relative to its electric system.
A. Strategy – Vegetation Management11
UEU meets or exceeds the minimum industry standard vegetation management practices. For both transmission and distribution level facilities, UEU meets: (1) GO 95 Rule 35 and (2) the GO 95 Appendix E Guidelines to Rule 35 (See Table 5 below). The standards require significantly increased clearances in the high fire threat areas. In identified high risk areas that border or are close to Tier 2 wildfire threat areas, the radial clearance of branches or foliage from bare conductors is increased up to 12’, unless such aggressive trimming would cause fatal damage to the tree or if the trimming would create adverse secondary consequences. The recommended time-of-trim guidelines do not establish a mandatory standard but instead provide useful guidance to utilities. UEU has developed a tree inventory to catalog existing trees and uses specific knowledge of growing conditions and tree species to determine the appropriate time of trim clearance in each circumstance.UEU performs this work with arborists and a contract for tree trimming services as needed. Additionally, vegetation clearing is completed at the base of poles to minimize potential sources of spread.
The radial clearances shown in Table 5 are the recommended minimum clearances established at time of trimming, between the vegetation and the energized conductors and associated live parts where practicable. For public safety or service reliability, vegetation management practices may obtain greater clearances than those listed to ensure compliance until the next scheduled maintenance. Each utility may apply additional clearances beyond those listed below. Practices take into consideration line operating voltage, length of span, line sag, planned maintenance cycles, location of vegetation within the span, species type, experience with particular species, vegetation growth rate and characteristics, vegetation management standards and best practices. Local climate, elevation, fire risk, and vegetation trimming requirements are also applicable to State Responsibility Area lands pursuant to Public Resource Code Sections 4102 and 4293.
UEU’s utility-specific wildfire mitigation activities are complemented by broader City and Ukiah Valley Fire Authority initiatives. The City’s grant-funded fuels crew has treated more than 500 11 PUC § 8387(b)(2)(H) plans for vegetation management.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 22
acres since the program began, including approximately 200 acres in the western hills. Work includes hazardous-fuels reduction, vegetation management, and construction projects.
Maintenance of fuel breaks near residential areas, critical infrastructure, parks, the Great Redwood Trail, airport property, and other locations throughout the region are also included.
The fuels crew also provides additional capacity during wildland-fire incidents, pre-positioning assignments, severe-weather events, and other emergencies.
Table 5. GO 95 Guidelines to Rule 3512
Voltage of Lines
Radial Clearance of Bare Line
Conductors from Tree Branches
or Foliage
Radial clearances for any conductor of a line
operating at 2,400 or more volts, but less than
72,000 volts
4 feet
Radial clearances for any conductor of a line
operating at 72,000 or more volts, but less than
110,000 volts
6 feet
Radial clearances for any conductor of a line
operating at 110,000 or more volts, but less than
300,000 volts
10 feet
Radial clearances for any conductor of a line
operating at 300,000 or more volts 15 feet
In addition, UEU Wildfire Prevention Program, included as Appendix A, also includes:
• No vertical coverage above UEU transmission lines.
• Vegetation control in a 30-foot perimeter around power plant and substations conductors.
• Clear easement from ground to sky on public lands adjacent to UEU facilities, unless it would result in adverse consequences.
• Collaboration with adjacent customers for wider clearance on their land. This could include tall, diseased, leaning trees at risk of falling into power lines. • Vegetative fuels reduction in easements on an annual rotation to maintain CPUC recommended clearances based on the fire hazard zone for transmission and 12 https://ia.cpuc.ca.gov/gos/go95/go_95_appendix_e-guidlines.html.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 23
distribution lines.
• Undergrounding in areas where heritage trees are prevalent.
B. Strategy - Enhanced Inspections13
Inspections play an important role in wildfire prevention. UEU currently follows the inspection cycles outlined in California GO 95, 128, and 165. UEU’s current inspection activities incorporate several components including annual infrared (IR) patrol of overhead lines and substations, inspection of wood poles, 115 KV lines and GIS data collection and sharing. All patrols and inspections are completed by a Journeyman Lineman who documents problems found and related actions to ensure issues are timely addressed. For issues that cannot be immediately addressed, work orders are issued with a priority level and completion date.
Annual patrols in and near the Tier 2 Fire Threat areas are conducted every spring prior to fire season. Patrols are documented and findings identified and addressed. Should deenergization occur from critical weather or an ignition, inspection by patrol is completed prior to reenergization. UEU uses unmanned aerial vehicles with IR capability. The frequency of inspections increases in the High Fire Threat areas and when storms or other disasters impact the system.
C. Strategy - Situational Awareness
UEU is evaluating an automated control management system that can be used during outages.
UEU is also investigating advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technology that can track customer outages as part of an Outage management System. The AMI system is included in the FY26/27 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Other efforts include the following, in collaboration with Ukiah PD and Ukiah Valley Fire Authority:
• Use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during high fire threat days for early detection, infrared inspection of hard-to-reach areas, and to support public safety. • Communication system upgrades for wildfire and disaster response and recovery. • AlertCA Wildfire cameras are monitored an used for early detection. • Reporting tools for customer safety issues.
D. Strategy - Operational Practices
13 PUC § 8387 (b)(2)(I) plans for inspections of electrical infrastructure.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 24
UEU operates the system in a manner that minimizes the risk of a catastrophic wildfire being caused or perpetuated by UEU electric facilities. UEU takes corrective actions for identified deficiencies including improperly installed or maintained fire protection measures.
Operational practices that help reduce the risk of wildfire and improve fire event response time include:
• During high wildfire threat periods, perform only essential and light non-expulsion work while observing areas of concern, including red flag warnings. • Place staff at Orchard Substation and Mendocino Hydroelectric Power Plant with an electrical technician or lineman.
• Post linemen where fire danger is higher and have field personnel patrol the City. • Immediately report any hazardous observations to Fire/Police. • Place all available UEU Staff on standby.
• Collect and maintain wildfire and system data necessary to implement and evaluate the Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
UEU places the system in no-reclose mode during hot, dry, windy conditions. As new hardware is installed with advanced capabilities, UEU is updating guidelines for recloser setting to more closely match wildfire risk assessment from CloudFire.14 E. Strategy - System Hardening
UEU’s electric facilities are designed, constructed, and maintained to meet or exceed the applicable federal, state, or industry standard. GO 95 provides design and construction standards for overhead electrical facilities throughout California. UEU meets or exceeds all GO 95 standards and follows the National Electric Safety Code.
UEU manages a 5-year capital improvement plan to:
• Add remote-controlled field reclosers.
• Clear every wood pole with operating devices of flammable vegetation to a radius of twelve feet.
• Clear access paths along power line easements to ensure access to inspect and perform maintenance.
• Replace wood poles with steel as 115KV transmission reach end of useful life for Tier
2. • Revise engineering and construction standards to include arc suppression components, raptor framing, squirrel guards, tree wire, lightening arresters, and arc 14 PUC § 8387 (b)(2)(F) recloser protocols.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 25
suppression fusing.
• Establish equipment standards for remote-controlled reclosers tied into the SCADA system.
• Convert overhead lines to underground as feasible and economic. • Consider alternative technologies, such as wire-break sensing and arc detection technology, based on cost-effectiveness and installation complexity. • Replace overhead fuses with current limiting, non-arcing models in Tier 2 areas.
F. Strategy - Public Safety and Notification15
The City ensures robust communication and coordination with the community during High Fire Threat periods and disasters.
Coordinate with UVFA and UPD, the City Office of Emergency Management, and the County Office of Emergency Services during emergencies or large-scale outages. • Utilize established emergency communication communications protocols with County EOC and/or Health and Human Services for outreach and notifications to vulnerable groups by utilizing available resources such as reverse 911, Nixle and other City and County wide notification systems.
• Actively update social media and issue press releases using the COU Communications Team.
Customer notification is a vital component of the City’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan. The process begins with customer education and continues with timely updates when weather conditions elevate wildfire risk. Educational outreach is conducted primarily through printed materials, the City’s website, and social media platforms.
Should it be necessary to de-energize all or part of the system due to extreme conditions, real time updates are delivered through social media and other technology accessible to City staff.
Notifications are coordinated through the City Manager’s Office, the City’s Emergency Operations Center, or other available means.
The City communicates directly with critical facility operators, such as hospitals, emergency centers, schools, and public agencies prior to any de-energization that may impact their electric service.
G. Strategy - Reclosing and Deenergization
15 PUC § 8387 (b)(2)(G) deenergization notification procedures.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 26
UEU prioritizes monitoring local and real-time conditions for proactive decisions regarding power shutoffs and re-energizations. UEUleverages its compact service territory and advanced strategies for ongoing risk assessment and real-time monitoring of local weather, ground conditions, and other system threats. This allows UEU to respond to actual hazards, ensuring that power shutoffs are timely enacted and in consultation with the City’s Office of Emergency Management, Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Ukiah Police Department, Cal Fire, and other public safety service partners. This approach is based on:
• The relatively compact service territory of only 4.3 square miles that is visible with proper technology.
• UEU’s expanded wildfire mitigation activities, including enhanced vegetation management and undergrounding beyond the Tier 2 threat areas to prevent ignitions near the higher threat areas.
• Over 50% of the City’s 77 miles of distribution is undergrounded. • All law enforcement, fire and hospital facilities are located within Tier 1 boundaries. • Turning off the power based on limited information, rather than local, real-time observations, could negatively affect a large portion of UEU’s small service territory. • Real-time information is available from staff located in areas at risk of extreme weather conditions.
• UEU can disable automatic reclosing and enable fast-trip protection on circuits that traverse Tier 2 areas or are considered a fire risk based on local conditions. • UEU leverages system hardening, situational awareness, vegetation management and other strategies to avoid shutting off power.
For public safety, City staff may proactively deenergize all or portions of the City’s electric distribution system. Deenergization of City power lines may occur:
• Upon the request of Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Ukiah Police Department, Cal Fire or other State or local public safety agencies.
• When UEU’s operating practices indicate a need for deenergization and situational awareness confirms the necessity.
• When energized power lines are subject to high winds or other weather or atmospheric conditions that may create a substantial public safety risk. • When real-time information from qualified field staff indicate that wind-driven conditions are threatening City-owned electric utility equipment. • When PG&E de-energizes the City’s transmission source. The City has no control over PG&E’s decision to de-energize Ukiah’s transmission.
As time permits, deenergization of City-owned power lines is coordinated between the City Manager’s Office, Electric Department, and all City Public Safety Departments. The decision to
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 27
deenergize City-owned power lines is communicated to the City Manager’s Office as soon as practical.
H. Strategy - Wildfire Response and Recovery
Key activities for wildfire response and recovery include:
• Stage fire protection equipment in a ready status and coordinate with the City’s Office of Emergency Management regarding EOC readiness and potential activation during high fire threat events.
• Staff critical assets for coverage and necessary shift changes during fire events. • Execute the City’s EOP for Wildfire Response:
• Activate communications through the City of Ukiah Electric Utility, as a member of the California Utility Emergency Association, to ensure communication among utilities during emergencies, including mutual aid.
• Activate the Western Energy Institute’s Western Region Mutual Assistance Agreement, covering utilities across several western states.
I. Strategy - Activate Complementary Programs
Strategies are also implemented through the following Programs:
• UEU Wildfire Prevention Program Appendix A
• Program – UEU Capital Improvement Plan
• Program – COU Emergency Operations Plan
6. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
COU, UVFA, UPD and UEU conduct proactive outreach and education to create public awareness of fire threats, fire prevention, and available support during a wildfire or large power outages. Prior to an emergency, communication includes regular messages related to wildfire prevention, such as right-of-way management, tree trimming, line inspection, or other relevant topics. Methods of communication include newsletters (Power Line Newsletter), website updates, social media posts, and public service announcements.
7. RESTORATION OF SERVICE16
In the event of a wildfire or other emergency event, UEU assigns staff to coordinate activities to restore service. After an event, UEU restores power in cooperation with UVFA, UPD, and COU 16 PUC § 8387 (b)(2)(M) how the utility will restore service after a wildfire.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 28
Departments. UEU management oversees restoration and response activities. If additional staff is needed, UEU may leverage mutual aid agencies, other City of Ukiah staff, and local aid organizations. The utility may also engage contractors as needed.
Steps typically taken for restoration:
• Assess. UEU crews must patrol each line segment to determine the extent of damage that has occurred. The patrol involves assessing equipment access issues, any cleanup/debris removal issues and determining personal protective equipment requirements for the crews. UEU works with the local agency in charge of the fire to access impacted areas as soon as the area is deemed safe by fire officials. • Plan. After initial assessment, UEU supervisors, managers and engineers meet to plan the needed work. The team works with system operations to prioritize restoration efforts, targeting the circuits that serve the most critical infrastructure needs. • Mobilize. Based on the size and complexity of the rebuild/restoration efforts, UEU coordinates the crews and materials. Mutual aid and contractors may be used for additional support. UEU maintains a materials vendor list and has contracts for labor and materials. Widespread catastrophic damage may create shortages and delay materials and labor.
• Rebuild. The rebuild effort led by UEU begins when areas become safe and accessible.
Initial efforts focus on getting the lines up and restoring damaged circuits. Depending on the extent of damage, demolition may be performed concurrently or after crews start installing new facilities. UEU incorporates new materials and technologies as indicated and available.
• Restore. UEU, mutual aid, or contract crews promptly restore electric service as soon as conditions are safe. Depending on the extent of damage, residential and business customers may have to perform their own repairs on their facilities and pass inspections by local agencies prior to having full electric service restored.
In most cases, restoration priorities depend on the specific incident and available resources:
• Public safety in the affected areas.
• Worker safety in performing the restoration work.
• Life-support or critical care customers.
• Critical infrastructure Hospitals, Key medical, City and County facilities and accounts, Sheriff’s Department and jail, City Police and Fire Departments, other key utility facilities (e.g., water, sewage, gas, citywide communications), Incident Command Site or Base Camp, Incident Evacuation Centers, local broadcast and radio Stations, etc.).
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 29
• Major commercial activities/accounts critical to continuity of community services (e.g., gas stations, food stores, home supply stores, repair shops, eateries and lodging facilities, financial institutions, etc.
• Reduce the total number of customers affected.
• Reduce the length of time customers have been without power.
UEU Operations find it efficient to dedicate restoration resources in the following order:
• Transmission circuit (115 kV).
• Substation and Mendocino Power Plant Facilities.
• Distribution circuits (600 Amp -12 kV).
• Distribution feeders (200 Amp – 12 kV).
• Distribution transformers.
• Service lines.
8. EVALUATION OF THE PLAN17
This section describes ways that UEU gauges WMP performance.
A. Metrics for Measuring Plan Performance18
Reducing wildfires caused by utility equipment and the incident rate of utility caused wildfires is UEU’s primary metric. Additional metrics help gauge if the risk of utility-caused wildfires is being reduced. The following five primary metrics are used to measure the effectiveness of UEU’s WMP.
Metric 1: Fire Ignitions
A fire ignition is defined as:
• The UEU facility associated with the fire
• Whether the fire was self-propagating and of a material other than electrical and/or communication facilities
• UEU has knowledge of the fire occurring
UEU collects and provides information on any known ignitions in the WMP. Table 6 provides a 17 PUC § 8387(b)(2)(N) processes and procedures to (i) monitor and audit; (ii) identify deficiencies; monitor and audit effectiveness of inspections.
18 PUC § 8387(b)(2)(D) metrics to measure and track Plan implementation.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 30
summary of known ignitions.
Table 6. Ignitions Caused by Utility Equipment for Metric 1 Year UEU Territory Inside Tier 2
Fire Threat Area
UEU Territory Outside Fire
Threat Area
2020 0 0
2021 0 0
2022 0 0
2023 0 1*
2024 0 0
2025 0 1**
2023 Grass fire caused by vehicular accident resulting in significant damage to pole and subsequently wire down ** 2025 Tree branch fell on 12kV and tree caught fire, extinguished by fire department The intent of this metric is to identify and investigate equipment that due to its design, age, construction, or condition should be replaced. This metric was revised in 2023 to align with the City’s definition of ignition which includes all ignitions, regardless of the distance of travel. In 2023, a grass fire started in the Tier 1 area from a vehicular accident. The fire was contained quickly.
Metric 2: Wires Down
A wire-down event includes any instance where an electric transmission or primary distribution conductor falls to the ground or onto a foreign object. UEU categorizes a wire-down event as occurring inside or outside of the High Fire Threat District. UEU does not normalize this metric by excluding unusual events, such as severe storms. UEU supplements this metric with a qualitative description of any unusual events. Table 7 summarizes known instances of wires down.
Table 7. Wires Down Events for Metric 2
Year UEU Territory Inside Tier 2
Fire Threat Area
UEU Territory Outside Fire
Threat Area
2020 0 0
2021 0 0
2022 0 0
2023 0 1*
2024 1 1
2025 1 1
*2023 grass fire caused by a vehicular accident resulted in significant damage to the pole and subsequently a wire down.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 31
The 2024 wire down incident occurred when a #6 solid copper wire connection burned off and dropped the wire to the ground. UEU is replacing all #6 solid copper wire due to aging. The 2025 wire down incidents occurred due to two separate failed connections.
Metric 3: Inspection Records and Maintenance
System inspections and timely maintenance are among the leading methods to improve system safety and reliability. UEU follows GO 95 and GO 165 for inspection schedules and performs additional patrols of overhead lines in High Fire Threat areas annually, beginning in the spring. Maintenance or repairs identified during these inspections are tracked and given priority in the work schedule, shown in Table 8.
Table 8. Inspections Records and Maintenance for Metric 3 Year Grids Completed - Patrols Grids Completed – Detailed Inspections
2020 27 27
2021 27 0
2022 27 0
2023 0 0
2024 18 0
2025 0* 5
*Note that Patrols were completed in 2025, however, adequate documentation was not submitted to properly quantify the number of grids completed. This error was identified during the Utility’s invasive inspection discussions first quarter 2026, reported to the Director by an Engineering Technician. Steps to correct the issue have started.
Detailed inspections began in 2025 and are being completed in 2026, following completion of the fire mitigation undergrounding project.
Metric 4: Vegetation Management
UEU maintains proper vegetation clearance from utility lines with the assistance of qualified high-voltage tree trimming contractors. The contractors work under the direction of the utility’s Superintendent to ensure proper clearances. Vegetation management is completed on a yearly basis. All 27 Grids in UEU’s service territory are evaluated for trimming annually. Enhanced vegetation management was completed in 2024 for areas adjacent to Tier 2 as part of a wildfire mitigation grant.
Metric 5: Overhead Equipment Failures
The failure of overhead utility equipment can be a source of ignition. This metric identifies
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 32
failures to ensure that equipment is replaced proactively. The number of failures is reported annually, shown in Table 9.
Table 9. Overhead Equipment Failures for Metric 5
Year UEU Territory Inside Tier 2
Fire Threat Area
UEU Territory Outside Fire
Threat Area
2020 2 1
2021 0 0
2022 0 1
2023 1 1
2024 0 0
2025 0 0
As data collection history improves it identifies areas of operations and the service territory that are impacted, helping improve the Plan over time.
Previous versions of the WMP’s metrics have informed the current WMP.19 Two metrics were originally used in the WMP during years 2020 and 2022. Fire Ignitions and Wires Down. UEU concluded that the two original metrics did not adequately assess Plan performance. UEU added metrics to increase oversight into potential ignition sources beginning with the 2023 WMP.
B. Monitoring and Auditing The Plan
Review of this WMP occurs annually and lessons learned have the highest priority for improving steps in the plan, any reference programs, and the process for implementation. UEU presents the WMP to the Ukiah City Council based on the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board revision schedule. The comprehensiveness of this WMP is assessed by an independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure. The independent evaluator issues a report to the Ukiah City Council and is made available on the City’s Website.
C. Identifying and Correcting Deficiencies In The Plan
UEU staff and qualified external stakeholders are encouraged to identify Wildfire Mitigation Plan deficiencies or potential deficiencies to the Electric Utility Director as soon as possible.
The Electric Utility Director evaluates each reported deficiency and, if the deficiency is determined to be a valid Plan deficiency, it is logged with the following information:
19 PUC § 8387(b)(2)(E) A discussion of how the application of previously identified metrics to previous wildfire mitigation plan performances has informed the wildfire mitigation plan.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 33
• Date the deficiency was discovered.
• Description of the deficiency.
• Source identifying the deficiency (e.g., Internal Audit). • Priority based on deficiency severity.
• Assigned corrective action including the date when it must be completed by. • Assigned staff responsible for completing the corrective action. • Date corrective action completed.
The Electric Utility Director reviews the log at regularly scheduled Leadership and Supervisor Meetings. The original 2020-2022 WMP metrics were supplemented with 2023 WMP update and continue to be monitored.
Identified corrections include inadequate documentation of some 2025 patrols that were not identified as complete. UEU is working to ensure that all patrols and inspections are properly documented to accurately reflect the comprehensive inspections program.
D. Monitoring the Effectiveness of Inspections
UEU performs inspections on either an annual, 5-year or 10-year cycle, based on GO 95 and GO 165 or fire mitigation recommendations. Any areas of improvement or hazards are documented with a work order, given a priority, and the work order is tracked. When completed the work order contains a close date.
The Electric Utility Director assigns qualified internal staff or engages a third party to review and audit the equipment and line inspection programs called out in the Wildfire Mitigation Plan after the completion of the first six months of the plan. Audit tasks include:
• Review records for the inspection programs.
• Interview staff performing inspections to assess their knowledge of the inspection programs.
• Monitor staff performing inspection activities.
• Review deficiencies noted in the programs.
• Identify systemic issues or problems.
• Note the timeliness of corrective actions.
• Select random samples of completed corrective actions and verify the effectiveness of the corrective actions.
• Issue a written report of findings.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan 34
The Superintendent of Utility Operations reviews the audit findings and assigns corrective actions as applicable. A copy of the audit report is sent to the Director.
9. INDEPENDENT AUDIT
Public Utilities Code section 8387(c) requires UEU to contract with a qualified independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure to review and assess the comprehensiveness of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
Revisions of the WMP are evaluated by the Ukiah Valley Fire Chief.20 The Fire Chief’s comments function as an independent audit and are incorporated into future revisions. The results of the independent evaluator are presented to the Ukiah City Council at a public meeting. 20 PUC § 8387(c) the utility shall contract with a qualified independent evaluator.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan Appendix
APPENDICES
This section contains the appendices of the WMP as follows:
Appendix A – Ukiah’s Wildfire Prevention Program
Appendix B – Wildfire Risk Quantification Methodology
Appendix C – Abbreviations and Acronyms
Appendix D – Cross-verification to Public Utilities Code section 8387 Appendix E – Wildfire Maps
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan A-1
Appendix A: Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Prevention Program • Introduction
1. Purpose - The purpose of the Ukiah Electric Utility (UEU) Wildfire Prevention Program (WPP) is to establish a framework for the electric utility to conduct an effective, coordinated program to prevent catastrophic impacts to its infrastructure from wildfire.
This program is a significant component of the UEU Wildfire Mitigation Plan required by California Public Utilities Code § 8387. The Program aims to prevent the start of wildfires from utility operations in and around the City of Ukiah.
2. Goals and Objectives – The goals and objectives guiding the WPP include:
• Prevent electric utility caused wildfires by identifying hazards that pose a potential threat of ignition.
• Prioritize prevention efforts by increasing inspections on overhead lines in Tier 2 fire threat areas.
• Improve and increase fuel reduction activities conducted during inspections. • Develop enhanced inspection techniques using Infrared Technology. • Develop a drone inspection program for overhead lines. • Create community awareness for utility wildfire prevention. • Strategy/Scope of Work
3. Detailed Corrective Maintenance Program Inspections: UEU performs a service territory-wide inspection of its electric distribution system on inspection cycles outlined by General Order 95 (GO 95) and General Order 128 (GO 128). In general, utilities must patrol their systems once a year in urban areas and conduct detailed inspections at a minimum of every three to five years. These inspections help mitigate wildfire risk by providing additional information about the electric distribution system and conditions that could result in ignition.
UEU will implement a detailed inspection of facilities in the Tier 2 areas of the City on an annual basis, in late spring, and expand the inspections to include additional fuels reduction and vegetation management in mid-summer. The following resources will be used to accomplish this:
• UEU-CPUC Fire Threat Map
• Department Inspection Checklist
As part ofits efforts to make its electric system more resistantto wildfires,UEUdesigned and actively maintains a vegetation management program aimed at keeping trees and brush clear of power lines. In areas where current GO 95 rules are currently met, UEU is evaluating and assessing areas where vegetation management may need to exceed GO 95 requirements, eliminating vegetation overhang near power lines and increasing the
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan A-2
clearance distances. In identified high risk areas that boarder or are close to Tier 2 wildfire threat areas, the radial clearance of branches or foliage from bare conductors will be increased to 12’.
Vegetation Management: UEU’s strategy for conducting its vegetation management program focuses on annual, routine inspections. In 2020, UEU began an electronic tree database to project growth and cycles of trimming needed to maintain clearances. The database includes information pertaining to the tree including species, height, diameter, growth rate and clearance. This history provides UEUinformation on trimming cycles, and which trees require annual work.
UEU’s vegetation management operations are conducted in compliance with the City’s Tree Management Guidelines and the City’s Landmark Tree Program Guidelines and Policies. All debris associated with pruning operations are chipped and recycled.
2. Periodic Infrared (IR) Inspections: Based on the success of the 2019 IR Pilot Program for overhead distribution equipment, UEU is creating a formalized program for periodic IR inspections. The program will include convening a thermography team responsible for quality checks on equipment and facilities to identify issues that could lead to a wire down or result in an ignition source, especially from conditions that are not identifiable during visual inspections. The pilot program proved to be successful in identifying several instances that could have resulted in outages. Annual IR inspections will initially be conducted in the high fire threat areas on electrical equipment and connections.
Frequency of these IR inspections will be adjusted as warranted.
3. Drone Inspections: UEU has enhanced its existing inspections using drones. In 2022, IR inspections using a drone provided close-in infrastructure observations. This technology captures images from multiple angles, including above to gain visual perspectives that cannot be gained from ground inspections.Drone images and data are evaluated by engineering staff to assess risk, determine trends, and identify patterns of infractions. Drone technology detects problems before they become a safety concern.
4. Education and Outreach: UEUcoordinates with the City Manager’s office to educate the public on the UEU’s wildfire prevention activities. Dissemination of information is done through a variety of channels such as UEU’s quarterly newsletter, Facebook and the City’s website.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan B-1
Appendix B: Wildfire Risk Quantification Methodology
CloudFire Inc.
1111 High Street, Suite B
Auburn, CA 95603
530-202-9057
Ukiah Electric Wildfire Risk Quantification
Methodology Summary
September 23, 2026
Prepared by:
Chris Lautenberger, PhD, PE(CA)
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan B-2
1. Introduction
CloudFire Inc. (CloudFire) conducted a utility wildfire risk analysis for the City of Ukiah Electric Utility (Ukiah Electric). The analysis included 0.55 miles of 115 kV overhead transmission lines and 47.66 miles of overhead distribution lines, totaling 48.21 miles. A total of 106,518 potential utility-caused ignitions and their consequences were modeled to quantify risk at the linesegment and circuit levels.
Ukiah Electric’s 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan identifies infrastructure in and adjacent to Tier 2 wildfire threat areas and describes elevated wildfire exposure along the western hills. The analysis applies to Ukiah Electric’s overhead assets and the surrounding landscape into which a utility-caused fire could spread.1
The analysis combined a baseline ignition response function, historical weather data, and firespread modeling. Ukiah Electric’s georeferenced outage records were unavailable for this analysis, so common baseline probability parameters were applied throughout the modeled network.
1 Ukiah Electric Utility, 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, pp. 4 and 14.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan B-3
2. Wildfire Risk Quantification Methodology
The methodology combines ignition likelihood under historical environmental conditions with the consequences of simulated fires. The resulting metrics describe the spatial distribution of wildfire risk across Ukiah Electric’s overhead assets.
2.1 Baseline Outage and Ignition Models
Because georeferenced outage records were unavailable for this analysis, no circuit-specific response functions were developed. The probability component used a baseline winddependent outage-rate function as a proxy for ignition likelihood. Fuel bed dryness and temperature were then used to convert the outage-rate proxy to an ignition rate. The baseline outage-rate function is:
OR = max(10𝐴𝐴 × WG + 𝐶𝐶, ORmin)
Here, OR is the outage-rate proxy, expressed in outages per line mile per hour, and WG is wind gust speed in mph. Table 1 lists the baseline parameters applied to both the transmission and distribution lines. These parameters were not estimated from Ukiah Electric’s outage history and are approximate values determined from previous analysis of outage records from other utilities.
Table 1. Baseline outage-rate model parameters.
Parameter Model input Value
A or_a 0.075
C or_c -6.02
ORmin or_min 8.91e-05
Ignition rate IR (ignitions per line mile per hour) is estimated from the outage-rate proxy OR as follows:
IR = 𝐹𝐹 × 𝑃𝑃ign × OR
where F is the ignition-to-outage ratio for a receptive fuel bed with negligible moisture content and temperature > 80 °F, and Pign is fuel bed ignition probability2 which is in turn a function of fine dead fuel moisture content and temperature (Table 2; percentages are divided by 100 in the ignition-rate equation). Fine dead fuel moisture is taken as equilibrium fuel moisture content as a function of relative humidity and temperature3 . An estimated range for F is 10-3 ≤ F
≤ 10-2, although this parameter is likely utility- and/or circuit-dependent. A value of F = 0.001 was used in this analysis.
2 Schroeder, M.J., “Ignition probability,” USDA Forest Service. Fort Collins, CO. RMRS unpublished report, 1969. 3 Glass, Samuel V.; Zelinka, Samuel L. 2021. Chapter 4: Moisture relations and physical properties of wood. In: Wood Handbook— Wood as an Engineering Material. General Technical Report FPL-GTR-282. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan B-4
Table 2. Fuel bed ignition probability (%)2.
Fuel Temp
(°F)
Fine Fuel Moisture Content (%)
1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7-8 9-10 11-12 13-16 17-20 21-25 26-30 >30 30-39 87 80 74 69 59 51 43 34 25 17 10 4 1 0 0
40-49 89 83 77 71 61 53 45 36 26 18 11 5 1 0 0
50-59 92 85 79 73 63 54 47 37 27 20 11 5 2 0 0
60-69 94 88 81 76 65 56 49 39 29 21 12 6 2 0 0
70-79 97 90 84 78 68 59 51 41 30 22 13 6 2 0 0
80-89 100 93 87 81 70 61 53 42 31 23 14 7 2 1 0
90-99 100 96 90 84 73 63 55 44 33 24 15 7 3 1 0
100-109 100 99 93 86 75 66 57 46 35 26 16 8 3 1 0
110-119 100 100 96 89 78 68 59 48 36 27 17 9 3 1 0
120-129 100 100 99 93 81 71 62 51 38 29 18 9 4 1 0
130-139 100 100 100 96 84 74 65 53 40 30 20 10 4 1 0
140-149 100 100 100 99 87 77 67 55 42 32 21 11 5 2 0
150-159 100 100 100 100 90 80 70 58 45 34 22 12 5 2 0
2.2 Ignition Catalog and Consequence Modeling
The analysis modeled a catalog of 106,518 ignition times and locations within a buffer around Ukiah Electric’s overhead lines, using the baseline ignition model and a high-resolution gridded hourly climatology for 2011–2025. The overhead network was divided into line segments no longer than 200 m.
Each ignition was associated with a line segment for asset-level risk reporting.
For every line segment at every hour in the historical climatology, ignition rate was calculated using the model in Section 2.1. At each time step, weighted random sampling based on conductor length and ignition rate was used to select segments with modeled ignitions. For each selected segment, the ignition location was randomized within a small buffer surrounding the segment.
The ignition catalog represents variation in ignition likelihood with wind and fuel conditions and samples the historical range of wind speeds and directions. With baseline probability parameters, spatial differences in modeled risk reflect environmental conditions, asset locations, and simulated fire consequences. The analysis does not represent differences in circuit performance inferred from outage records or other asset health information.
The consequences of each ignition were modeled using ELMFIRE4,5 . In addition to the ignition catalog,
model inputs included:
1) Historical wind and weather conditions from the Real Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA) dataset6 ,
which provides hourly weather estimates on a 2.5 km grid for the continental United States. The analysis used data for 2011–2025.
4 https://elmfire.io
5 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2013.08.014
6 https://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/products/rtma/
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan B-5
2) Topography, surface fuel, and canopy fuel layers at 30 m resolution from LANDFIRE data selected for the analysis and reviewed against current local conditions7 .
3) A timber mask derived from the LANDFIRE surface and canopy fuel layers. 4) Building footprints from Microsoft8
.
5) Watershed importance data from the USDA Forests to Faucets dataset9 .
Each simulated fire was ignited near an overhead line under historical wind and weather conditions and allowed to spread for 8 hours. This period captures early fire growth, when most structure impacts from wind-driven utility-caused fires occur before effective structure protection can be established. For each of the 106,518 ignitions, the model recorded fire size, acres of timber consumed, the number of structures within the modeled fire perimeter, and watershed impacts. The simulation domain extended beyond the service territory where needed to capture fire spread and consequences.
2.3 Risk Metrics and Normalization
ELMFIRE outputs were processed to calculate risk by summing over modeled ignitions and weighting each ignition by its consequence. Risk was normalized by line-segment length for asset-level reporting and by overhead line length for circuit-level reporting, allowing comparisons on a per-mile basis. Normalized total risk (𝑅𝑅�) combines four impact categories:
structures, timber, fire size (suppression costs), and watersheds. The weighted sum is:
𝑅𝑅� = �𝑤𝑤𝑖𝑖𝑅𝑅𝑖𝑖
4 𝑖𝑖=1
= 𝑤𝑤𝑠𝑠𝑅𝑅𝑠𝑠 + 𝑤𝑤𝑡𝑡𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡 + 𝑤𝑤𝑎𝑎𝑅𝑅𝑎𝑎 + 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅𝑤𝑤 = 0.55𝑅𝑅𝑠𝑠 + 0.15𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡 + 0.15𝑅𝑅𝑎𝑎 + 0.15𝑅𝑅𝑤𝑤 Here, Rs is risk to structures, Rt is risk to timber, Ra is risk from fire size (suppression costs), and Rw is risk to watersheds. The calculation assigns a weight of 0.55 to structure impacts and 0.15 to each remaining category. These weights can be adjusted during post-processing to reflect utility priorities.
The impact categories have different units, so their risk scores were normalized before applying the weighted sum. For each category, scores were divided by the 90th-percentile (P90) risk score across all line segments.
7 https://landfire.gov/data
8 https://github.com/microsoft/GlobalMLBuildingFootprints 9 https://www.fs.usda.gov/ecosystemservices/FS_Efforts/forests2faucets.shtml
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan B-6
3. Fire Risk Model Outputs
The model provides geospatial risk outputs at two scales:
1. Individual line segments (asset level)
2. Circuits or monitoring zones
Circuit zones group Ukiah Electric’s overhead line GIS features by feeder or circuit identifier, with distribution and transmission assets grouped separately where applicable. A 120 m buffer around the grouped linework defines the circuit polygons.
Figure 1 presents normalized total risk by line segment. Figure 2 presents the corresponding risk by circuit. Both maps use the impact categories and weighting factors described in Section 2.3.
Underlying GIS data and tabular outputs include asset and circuit identifiers, overhead line length, risk by impact category, and normalized total risk.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan B-7
Figure 1. Asset-level view of normalized total risk for Ukiah Electric.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan B-8
Figure 2. Circuit-level view of normalized total risk for Ukiah Electric, aggregated by circuit.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan B-9
4. Summary
The analysis quantified wildfire risk across 48.21 miles of Ukiah Electric’s overhead network using a baseline ignition response function and fire consequence modeling. The analysis included:
• 0.55 miles of 115 kV overhead transmission lines and 47.66 miles of overhead distribution lines. • 106,518 potential ignitions modeled under historical wind and weather conditions. • Baseline outage/ignition probability parameters because georeferenced outage records were unavailable for this analysis.
• Consequences evaluated for structure impacts, fire size, timber impacts, and watershed impacts, with risk summarized by line segment and circuit.
Future updates could use georeferenced outage records and asset condition information to refine the probability model.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan C-1
Appendix C: Abbreviations and Acronyms
The following are referenced in this WMP:
Term Definition
CAL FIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection CIP Capital Improvement Plan
COU or City City of Ukiah
CPUC California Public Utilities Commission is the regulatory agency that regulates investor-owned utilities in California EOC Emergency Operations Center
EOP Emergency Operations Plan is a City Plan, formerly known as the Multi Hazard Emergency Response Plan that
establishes communication, facilitates collaboration and ensures compliance with local, state and federal
emergency management agencies
GO General Order of the State of California
ICS Incident Command System is a standardized approach to the command, control and coordination of emergency
response
IR Infrared technology that uses thermography to recognize hot spots in electrical equipment
HFTD High Fire Threat District
LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging is a remote sensing technology that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure distances
MTA Mendocino Transit Authority
OES Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric
PUC Public Utilities Code
SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition is a computer system for gathering and analyzing real time data
SEMS Standardized Emergency Management System
UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
UEU or Utility Ukiah Electric Utility
UPD Ukiah Police Department
UVFA Ukiah Valley Fire Authority
WMP Wildfire Mitigation Plan as implemented under Public Utilities Code § 8387
WUI Wildland Urban Interface
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan D-1
Appendix D: Cross-verification to Public Utilities Code section 8387.
Requirement Section
A – responsible persons 3
B - objectives 2
C – preventive strategies and programs 5
D – metrics 8.A
E - former metrics 8.A
F – recloser protocols 5.G
G – customer notification for PSPS 5.F
H – Vegetation Management 5.A
I – Inspections 5.B
J – wildfire risks and drivers 4
K – geographic areas at risk of a higher risk 4.B
L – enterprise wide safety risk 4.B
M - service restoration 7
N – procedures to monitor and audit, identify
deficiencies, monitor inspections
8. (3 parts)
Independent Auditor 9
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan E-1
Appendix E: Maps
This section contains maps relevant to the City of Ukiah’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan and service area.
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan E-2
Ukiah Electric Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan E-3
Agenda Item No: 14.a.
MEETING DATE/TIME: 10/7/2026
ITEM NO: 2026-1581
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Proclaiming a Local Emergency for the 2026-2027 El Niño Event.
DEPARTMENT: City Manager /
Admin PREPARED BY: Traci Boyl, Senior Management Analyst PRESENTER: Traci Boyl, Emergency Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proclamation of Emergency re Super El Nino
Summary: Council will consider adoption of a resolution proclaiming a local emergency in the City of Ukiah for the developing 2026–2027 El Niño event.
Background: On September 21, 2026, the Governor proclaimed a statewide emergency to support advance preparation for the developing 2026–2027 El Niño event and its anticipated impacts. The proclamation mobilizes state resources and supports efforts to protect communities and critical infrastructure before severe winter weather intensifies. Mendocino County subsequently proclaimed a local emergency on September 29, 2026.
The developing event presents the potential for severe winter storms, heavy precipitation, high winds, flooding, erosion, landslides, debris flows, road closures, and power outages. Although the timing and severity of localized impacts remain uncertain, advance preparation is necessary to protect public safety and maintain essential City services.
Discussion: The proposed resolution declaring a local emergency (Attachment 1) formally recognizes the threat posed by the developing El Niño event and the potential for conditions likely to exceed the City’s response capabilities and require assistance from other jurisdictions. Proclaiming a local emergency supports coordinated preparedness, resource planning, and response with Mendocino County, state agencies, and other jurisdictions.
Advance preparations may require the City to procure and stage equipment, supplies, and materials; secure necessary services and agreements; mobilize personnel; and coordinate resources with other agencies and community partners before severe weather occurs. These actions support the protection of life, property, critical infrastructure, and essential City services and will follow applicable emergency authorities and City purchasing procedures.
Government Code Section 8558(c)(1) defines a local emergency, and Section 8630 of the City Code authorizes the City Council to proclaim a local emergency. The Council must review the need to continue the emergency declaration at least once every 60 days and terminate it at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. Staff will return to Council for the required review of the emergency declaration or earlier termination, as appropriate.
Adoption of the Resolution does not approve a specific expenditure or budget adjustment. Costs associated with preparedness, response, or recovery will depend on actual conditions and resource needs. Staff will track
associated costs and bring forward any necessary budget actions. Any potential reimbursement will depend on applicable assistance programs, eligibility requirements, and required documentation.
Recommended Action: Adopt a Resolution proclaiming the existence of a local emergency in the City of Ukiah for the developing 2026–2027 El Niño event.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: N/A
CURRENT BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
PROPOSED BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
FINANCING SOURCE: N/A
REVENUE: No GRANT: No
PREVIOUS CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER NO.: N/A
COORDINATED WITH:
STRATEGIC PLAN (SP):
GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS (GP):
1 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH PROCLAIMING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY FOR THE 2026-2027 EL NIÑO EVENT
WHEREAS:
1. Government Code § 8550, et seq., including Section 8558(c), authorize the City Council to proclaim a local emergency when the City is threatened by conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City that are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City; and
2. On September 21, 2026, the Governor of California proclaimed a state of emergency statewide due to the developing 2026-2027 El Niño Event; and
3. The County of Mendocino proclaimed a Local Emergency on September 29, 2026, due to the developing 2026-2027 El Niño Event and in response to the Governor’s proclamation; and
4. As a result of the 2026-2027 El Niño Event, the City is overwhelmingly likely to be impacted by a historic strength El Niño event including atmospheric rivers, high winds, substantial precipitation, erosion, closure and damage to highways and roads, evacuation orders and warnings in areas impacted by burn scars, significant debris flows, river and urban flooding, land movement incidents, and widespread power outages. Such conditions are or are likely to be beyond the control of the resources of the City. Coordination, collaboration, and the combined forces of other jurisdictions are imperatively needed to effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from the 2026-2027 El Niño Event; and
5. The ability to rapidly procure equipment, supplies, materials, services, and other resources; enter into agreements and contracts; mobilize personnel; and coordinate with other governmental and private entities is necessary to ensure the City is adequately prepared to respond to the potential impacts of the 2026–2027 El Niño Event and winter storm season; and
6. Immediate and proactive preparedness actions are necessary to reduce the potential impacts of severe weather, protect life and property, preserve critical infrastructure and essential services, and enhance the City's ability to respond effectively to emergency conditions; and
7. As of October 6, 2026, there exist conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property on the basis of the 2026-2027 El Niño Event, which are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City, and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to prepare for and combat; and
8. These conditions warrant and necessitate that the City proclaim the existence of a local emergency for the 2026-2027 El Niño Event.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:
1. The City Council finds that conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons Attachment 1
2 exist on the basis of the 2026-2027 El Niño Event within the meaning of Government Code § 8558(c)(1), and such conditions are or will likely be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to prepare for and combat.
2. The City Council proclaims that a local emergency exists for the 2026-2027 El Niño Event.
3. The Council shall review the need for continuing the local emergency as required by State and local law until it terminates the local emergency and shall terminate this local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant.
4. During the existence of said local emergency, the powers, functions and duties of the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by state law, City ordinances and resolutions, and the City of Ukiah Emergency Plan.
5. A copy of this Resolution shall be forwarded to the County of Mendocino Office of Emergency Services (OES) with a request that OES forward the Resolution to California Office of Emergency Services.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 7th day of October, 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Susan Sher, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kristine Lawler, City Clerk
Agenda Item No: 14.b.
MEETING DATE/TIME: 10/7/2026
ITEM NO: 2026-1579
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolution Approving Award of Emergency Contract with Wipf Construction, in the Amount of $253,305 for Trenching, Conduit Installation, Repaving, and Equipment Box Placement in Oak Manor Subdivision; and Approval of Corresponding Budget Amendment.
DEPARTMENT: Electric Utility PREPARED BY: Cindy Sauers, Electric Utility Director PRESENTER: Cindy Sauers, Electric Utility Director
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Emergency Underground Oak Manor Drawing
2. Oak Manor Emergency Work Estimate
3. Oak Manor Emergency Work Resolution
Summary: Council will consider adoption of resolution approving award of an emergency contract with Wipf Construction, in the amount of $253,305 for trenching, conduit installation, repaving, and equipment box installation in the Oak Manor Subdivision; and approve a corresponding budget amendment.
Background: On September 11, 2026, underground, direct-buried conductor failed on Pomo Drive, causing a three-hour outage for over 50 customers in the Oak Manor Subdivision. Once the location of the fault was determined, it became apparent that the issues in the area were much broader and needed to be addressed. The electric crew was directed to restore power to all customers but leave the damaged conductor deenergized. On Monday, September 14th, engineering Staff reviewed the area and determined that four of the five transformers were "live front", containing exposed primary bushings, conductors, and connections, creating greater risk of accidental contact, phase-to-phase faults, and arc-flash incidents during switching, inspection, testing, and maintenance. The Utility has an ongoing effort to remove these transformers when possible. These four transformers were installed between 1972 and 1983. Additionally, it was discovered that one of the transformers is leaking oil.
Discussion: In total, Staff determined that approximately 1,200 feet of conduit must be installed to eliminate the existing direct-buried cable between these transformers, as shown in Attachment 1. Staff evaluated both conventional trenching and horizontal directional boring with Wipf Construction and determined that trenching would be slightly more cost-effective. Staff estimates approximately $21,000 in associated trench-cut fees, which will be transferred to Public Works.
This work is critical to maintaining redundancy between the 202 and 304 circuits and ensuring continued service in the event of additional equipment or cable failures. The affected circuits serve Ukiah Valley Medical Center, Oak Manor Subdivision, and customers along Orchard Avenue, making restoration of this redundancy an operational priority. With a particularly wet winter forecast, timely completion of the work is important to minimize the risk of weather-related delays and ensure the system is more resilient before winter conditions make construction and emergency repairs more difficult. Wipf Construction provided a quote (Attachment 2), in the amount of $253,305.
Staff recommends Council adopt the attached resolution (Attachment 3) approving the award of an emergency contract with Wipf Construction in the amount of $253,305 for trenching, conduit installation, repaving, and equipment box installation on Pomo Drive. Council will receive regular updates at subsequent scheduled City
Council meetings per Section 22050(c)(1) of the Public Contract Code and requires a four-fifths vote determining that the work under the emergency contract shall continue.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution approving award of emergency contract with Wipf Construction, in the amount of $253,305 for trenching, conduit installation, repaving, and equipment box placement in Oak Manor Subdivision; and approval of corresponding budget amendment.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: Yes
CURRENT BUDGET AMOUNT: 80026120.52100: $15,000
PROPOSED BUDGET AMOUNT: 80026120.52100: $293,635.50
FINANCING SOURCE: Electric Fund
REVENUE: No GRANT: No
PREVIOUS CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER NO.: N/A
COORDINATED WITH: Sage Sangiacomo, City Manager; Myles Fisette, Purchasing Manager STRATEGIC PLAN (SP): SP 1B - Provide services that support a high quality of life for all residents, including fostering diverse, inclusive, sustainable, and accessible neighborhoods.
GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS (GP): GP-A4 - Public Facilities, Services, and Infrastructure Element.
YAQUI DR
MAYA WY
WASHO DR
POMO DR
WIYAT DR
18M
PPB
#
40A
11WIYAT01
1 Trench
2 Trench
5 0601
07 1 1
BAD UNDERGROUND
NUMBER
N.T.S.
9/14/2026 SB SB 0
W.O.
GRID
SCALE
DWG. No.
SHEET of
TITLE:
APPROVED BY:
AS BUILT
No. REVISIONS DSG. BY BY CKD APPD
DATE DRAWN CHECKED
ELECTRIC UTILITY DEPARTMENT
DESIGNED
DATE
REVISION
ELECTR IC
U T I L I T Y
C ITY OF UKIAH
FOUNDED 1 8 7 6
18 0 MENDOCINO
C O U N T Y City of Ukiah
OAK MANOR SUBDIVISION
CONSTRUCTION NOTES:
Contractor to:
1. Starting at transformer 990 trench and install 1-4" SCHD 40 conduit approx. 245' from transformer 990 north to transformer 1002.
2. From Transformer 1002 trench and install 1-4" SCHD 40 approx. 260' east to transformer 1062.
3. Trench and install 1-4" SCHD 40 conduit approx. 233' between 1062 and 1307.
4. Trench and install 1-4" SCHD 40 conduit approx. 120' between 1307 and the PPB that is fed by power pole #11WSHOD06.
5. At transformer 2190, COUE to de-energize pri. to transformer 990.
6. At transformer 990 COUE to remove old transformer; contractor to install new pad and conduit sweeps per detail #2. COUE to set new transformer and re-energize transformer.
7. At Transformer 1062,COUE to de-energize pri. line to transformer 1002.
8. At transformer 1002, COUE to remove old transformer; contractor to install new pad and conduit sweeps per detail # 2. COUE to pull new 1/0 primary wire make all connections and energize new transformer from the south 990 location.
9. Primary between 1002 and 1062 to stay de-energized.
10. At transformer 1307, COUE to de-energize pri. to transformer 1062, leaving 1062 isolated
11. At transformer 1062 COUE to remove old transformer; contractor to install new pad and conduit sweeps per detail #2. COUE to install new transformer, run new wire from transformer 1002 east to 1062 make all connections and energize from transformer 1002 only.
12. From pole # 11WSHOD06, open cut-outs to de-energize pri line south to transformer 1307 leaving 1307 isolated.
13. COUE to remove old transformer 1307, contractor to install new transformer pad and sweeps per Detail #2.
14. COUE to pull new 1/0 wire from 1062 to 1307, and from 1307 through PPB to riser pole 11WSHOD06 make all connections and energize.
15. COUE to return system to normal operation.
1002
1062
1307
990
2190
11WSHOD06
6 8
7 10
12 9
3 Trench
4 Trench
11 ELECTRIC UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION GENERAL NOTES
1. All trenching, backfilling, and installation of electric structures shall be in accordance with City of Ukiah Electric Department's current standard practices. The Contractor is to place transformer pads, conduits, vaults, pull boxes street light bases and standards, pull-in tape, and all associated material. Contractor shall provide concrete for transformer pads, street light bases, sweep reinforcement and other applications as required.
2. After payment of electric construction costs, the City of Ukiah Electric Department will install cable, transformers, street light standards and lights. The City shall make all necessary splices and connections.
3. It is the Contractor's responsibility to have the installations inspected and approved by a City of Ukiah Electric Utility Department project manager prior to backfilling. A minimum 24-hour notice is required.
4. It is the Contractor's responsibility to verify the precise location of all underground facilities prior to the start of construction. Call Underground Service Alert (USA) 48 hours in advance at 1-800-642-2444. A conduit shall not be deemed abandoned unless the owner utility has given written confirmation. The contractor must follow all USA laws.
5. If during construction the approved plans cannot be followed, the City of Ukiah Electric Utility Engineering Department Project Manager must approve any changes.
6. The Contractor is responsible for repairing or replacing all damage during construction to asphalt, concrete, curb, gutter, sidewalk, landscaping, retaining walls, etc., and restoring to original or better condition.
7. Trench backfill shall conform to City of Ukiah standard trench detail and compaction requirements. (Copies are available upon request.
8. The Contractor shall shore all trenches deeper than 5 feet. Shoring shall be in accordance with the Construction Safety Orders of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
9. RESIDENTIAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
120/240, 120/208 Single Phase up to 200 Amp.
Minimum Conduit Size - 3" Schedule 40 (2” Schedule 40 Conduit may be considered on a case by case scenario, with approval of Electric Department) with 24" Min. radius, Schedule 40 Elbows, 2/0 AL Triplex 600 V Cable. Conduit rising above ground shall be Schedule 80.
NOTE: Maximum of three 90-degree Elbows per run or 270 degrees of bend.
From 200 to 400A Service sizes, minimum conduit size 3”,. 4/0 AL TX.
10. COMMERCIAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
120/240, 120/208, Single and Three Phase 480/277 Three Phase Minimum Conduit: Primary - 4” Sch 40 with 36" Min. radius, Sch 40 Elbows.. Secondary – Sch 40 per chart below. Any primary or secondary conduit rising above ground shall be Schedule 80
Commercial Number of Conductor size Number of Elbows2
Service Size Conductors (KCML or AWG) Conduits
200A 4 4/0 AL 600V 1-3" SCH 40 3"-36" Min. SCH 80
400A 4 500 KCM AL 600V 1-4" SCH 40 4"-36" Min. SCH 80
600A 4 500 KCM AL 600V 2-4" SCH 40 4"-36" Min. SCH 80
800A 4 500 KCM AL 600V 3-4" SCH 40 4"-36" Min. SCH 80
1000A 4 500 KCM AL 600V 4-4" SCH 40 4"-36" Min. SCH 80
1200A 4 750 KCM AL 600V 4-5" SCH 40 5"-36" Min. SCH 80
1600A 4 750 KCM AL 600V 6-5" SCH 40 5"-36" Min. SCH 80
2000A 4 750 KCM AL 600V 8-5" SCH 40 5"-36" Min. SCH 80
NOTES: 1. Maximum of three 90-degree elbows or 270 degrees of bend per conduit run.
2. Inside of sweeps to be concrete reinforced
3. 24" elbows are acceptable in certain cases with approval of City of Ukiah.
4. All commercial services shall have a test block bypass per EUSERC specification.
5. All switchgear must be approved by UEU Metering and Technical Services Department.
Contractor shall supply the technical drawings that include the EUSERC numbers for each cabinet of the proposed switchgear and panels. EUSERC does not allow source and load power (metered and un-metered) to comingle in the same space.
11. Street Light Conduit - 1" PVC Conduit Type DB-120 minimum. Bends and sweeps shall be 24" minimum radius. THHN wire required for streetlights.
12. Conduit pull tape shall be a minimum of 2500 lb. tensile strength and shall have footage markers.
13. All vertical 90 degree bends require bags of concrete placed on risers. 2 bags for 1-2 conduits, 6 bags for 3-4 conduits and 8 bags for 5-6 conduits. The amount of bags may be increased in field by PM, if required. 13"
6"
52"
18"
50"
11"
MANUFACTURER'S
LOGO
DATE MANUFACTURED
28"
242'
254'
267'
233'
120'
NOTE: All Transformers to be set in place.
Grounding needs to be set for each transformer (5/8" Ground rod with 30' 4/0 CU in trench) 12"
25"
4"
48"
13 ATTACHMENT 1
Attachment 2
ATTACHMENT 3
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH APPROVING AWARD OF
AN EMERGENCY CONTRACT WITH WIPF CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $253,305.00.
WHEREAS: The City of Ukiah ("City") provides electric utility services to residents and businesses in the City, and Ukiah Electric Utility is the City's publicly owned electric utility with the City Council providing local governance and oversight; and WHEREAS: On September 11, 2026, underground, direct buried conductor failed on Pomo Drive, causing a 3-hour outage for over 50 customers in the Oak Manor Subdivision. Once the location of the fault was determined, it became apparent that the issues in the area were much broader and needed to be addressed.; and
WHEREAS: Engineering staff reviewed the area and determined that four of the five transformers were "live front", containing exposed primary bushings and one transformer was leaking oil; and
WHEREAS: The affected circuits serve Ukiah Valley Medical Center, Oak Manor Subdivision, and customers along Orchard Avenue, making restoration of this redundancy an operational priority; and
WHEREAS: With a particularly wet winter forecast, timely completion of the work is important to minimize the risk of weather-related delays and ensure the system is more resilient before winter conditions make construction and emergency repairs more difficult; and
WHEREAS: City Staff consulted with Wipf Construction to determine the cost for trenching, conduit installation, repaving, and equipment box placement; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ukiah hereby approves the award of an emergency contract with Wipf Construction, in the amount of $253,305 to complete the emergency work and restore redundancy to Ukiah Valley Medical Center, Oak Manor Subdivision, and customers on Orchard Avenue.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ukiah on the 7th day of October 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ATTACHMENT 3
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
_____________________________
Susan Sher, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Kristine Lawler, City Clerk
Agenda Item No: 14.c.
MEETING DATE/TIME: 10/7/2026
ITEM NO: 2026-1537
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SUBJECT: Authorization for the Mayor to Work with Staff to Finalize, Sign, and Submit a Joint Rural Northern California Cities Letter to the State Legislature Related to the 7th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Determination and Methodology; and/or Provide Additional Direction to Staff as Necessary.
DEPARTMENT: Community
Development PREPARED BY: Craig Schlatter, Community Development Director PRESENTER: Craig Schlatter, Community Development
Director
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Joint rural cities 7th cycle RHNA reform letter (DRAFT) Summary: Council will consider authorizing the Mayor to work with Staff to finalize, sign, and submit a joint rural northern California cities letter to the State Legislature related to the 7th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Determination and Methodology; and/or provide additional direction to Staff as necessary.
Background: On June 17, 2026, Council authorized the submittal of an appeal of the 7th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the City of Ukiah to the Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG).
The appeal challenged a number of inconsistencies with HCD's methodology, as well as questioning the reasoning behind an apparent 'feeling' by HCD staff that Ukiah should be assigned a larger share of overall units.
On August 24, 2026, the MCOG Board reviewed and rejected the City's appeal, by a 4-2 vote. The Board also directed MCOG staff to submit a letter to HCD expressing concerns about the RHNA methodology and process.
Based on previous interactions with MCOG and HCD, it is Staff's opinion that a letter from MCOG staff will have little, if any, effect on reforming the methodology for the future. In September 2025, for example, early in the RHNA determination process, HCD summarily rejected an appeal and alternative methodology proposed by MCOG without demonstrating any evidence that might refute the data and conclusions presented by MCOG and coordinating Mendocino County jurisdictions.
Discussion: In neighboring Humboldt County, the City of Eureka also appealed their 7th Cycle RHNA, to the Humboldt County Association of Governments. Although the appeals by Eureka and Ukiah challenged different aspects of the regional housing needs determinations, in a September phone conversation with Eureka's Development Services Director, Staff learned the issues with the underlying HCD methodology were nearly identical. Through this conversation, it was realized that other rural Northern California cities within the 7th Cycle may be facing similar issues to Eureka and Ukiah. As of the date of the writing of this staff report, the Cities of Arcata and Fort Bragg have also indicated support for a joint letter submitted to the State Legislature.
The State's RHNA methodology is a standardized, one-size-fits-all approach, which at this point is primarily driven by the many changes to state housing element law since approximately 2017. The methodology makes assumptions about housing needs in each county or regional area based on inscrutable, and to this point unavailable, analysis by the State that purportedly is based upon comparisons to national data. A Public
Records Act request submitted by the County of Mendocino to obtain the worksheet used by HCD in determining housing needs in Mendocino County, including how the determination figures were reached, has been ignored by the State.
Staff has prepared a draft letter (Attachment 1) outlining concerns related to HCD's RHNA methodology and proposing possible solutions. Staff is recommending that this letter be shared among other incorporated cities in Lake, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties, with a final letter developed and signed by the Mayor and/or other authorized representative of each city. Because the letter in Attachment 1 is the first version of this joint letter, Staff further recommends Council authorize the Mayor to work with Staff to finalize and execute the letter on the City's behalf, after further discussions with the staff of other northern California rural cities.
Recommended Action: Authorize the Mayor to work with Staff to finalize, sign, and submit a joint rural northern California cities letter to the State Legislature related to the 7th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Determination and Methodology; and/or provide additional direction to Staff as necessary.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: N/A
CURRENT BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
PROPOSED BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
FINANCING SOURCE: N/A
REVENUE: Yes / No GRANT: Yes / No
PREVIOUS CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER NO.: N/A
COORDINATED WITH: N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN (SP): N/A
GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS (GP): )GP-A8 - Housing Element (2019-2027).
(The list below assumes participation of cities in Humboldt, Lake, and Mendocino Counties) Senate President Pro Tempore Emeritus Mike McGuire, District 2 State Senator District 2 Assemblymember Chris Rogers
District 4 Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
California State Senate / California State Assembly
State Capitol Building, Room ___
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Senator McGuire and Assemblymembers Rogers and Aguiar-Curry, As representatives of the Northern California Cities of Arcata, Eureka, Fort Bragg, Ukiah, _____, we are writing to express concern with the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process and methodology associated with the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)’s Seventh (7th) Cycle Housing Element process and urgently seek your assistance with RHNA reform. We are concerned that without your intervention and engagement on this issue, our small, rural cities will be further disadvantaged by the loss of key transportation and housing funding, as well as impacts to public safety.
1. The State’s 7th Cycle RHNA methodology approaches housing in rural cities through a one-sized-fits-all lens without regard to city population size, historical growth rates, or past (6th Cycle) housing production.
The City of Eureka is a Pro-Housing city, and even with the City’s implementation of pro-housing policies and actions, U.S. Census figures show that Eureka’s population decreased by 1,167 from 2020 to 2025. Eureka was still assigned a total of 1,754 units in the 7th Cycle RHNA.
Eureka’s census figures align with population trends across the three-county region.
Populations of cities in our region range in size from 460 (Point Arena) to 25,304 (Eureka). For the past roughly 40 years, population growth across the region has remained relatively flat, and in some cities, declined. And yet the 7th Cycle RHNA assignment in all cities was significantly increased by HCD.
2. Local market conditions are at odds with HCD’s RHNA methodology. In our cities, housing developers are not banging down our doors to build housing. We are banging on theirs, and our populations are still declining.
HCD’s 7th Cycle RHNA methodology in no way relies on local data to justify increases to the RHNA assignment and instead uses a standardized model for all. Through this approach, HCD is in effect saying the levers cities have for facilitating housing production are the same in Clearlake as in San Francisco, and the market responds the same way in each locale.
Economists have proven housing markets are different in every city, so treating cities the same for assigning the RHNA is not only erroneous; it is not supported by basic economic principles.
Cities across the state face similar issues of housing affordability and availability, inflation, and expensive capital costs. Rural cities, however, also face barriers that wealthier, urban areas do not- such as a limited or a non-existent pool of housing developers, architects, and engineers; no or very small building and planning staffs (to complete rezones and process permits); a small and less-educated labor pool, which results in higher project costs with less quality (and more inspections by our small building inspection staffs); and much lower resident incomes. These issues particularly pose challenges to incentivizing the construction of market-rate housing.
ATTACHMENT 1
3. The 7th Cycle RHNA methodology’s approach to dramatically increasing RHNA assignments across our three-county region will not lead to more housing construction. It will lead to less. We will just have more paperwork to do.
In contrast to many bigger and wealthier cities that may have hundreds of thousands of dollars to hire a consultant to complete a Housing Element, the staff of our small, rural cities often do much of this work with existing staff and constrained resources. Instead of innovating new ways to incentivize the production of housing, our staff is focused on meeting all the requirements in HCD’s Housing Completeness Checklist, checking all of HCD’s boxes prior to the approximately 6-month mandatory HCD review process, and getting all of this accomplished before the deadline so our cities are not penalized or fined.
In penalizing or fining cities that do not check the boxes, there is an underlying assumption that cities are anti-housing. This is simply not true. Our rural cities aggressively pursue new housing construction because our residents are demanding it.
4. And as a result, our neighborhoods will experience more income segregation, have greater concentrations of poverty, and be more susceptible to blight.
High land costs combined with low resident incomes and lack of available infill parcels in rural cities means market-rate housing is challenging for developers and builders to produce at scale.
Additionally, primary affordable housing funding sources like the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program incentivize construction of several affordable housing units at one location.
Concentrating low-income units in one portion of a city leads to increased income segregation and impacts to public safety. Over time, it may lead to escalating incidents of poverty, neighborhood deterioration, and blight.
5. All our rural cities will lose because of the 7th Cycle RHNA methodology approach, but our Pro-Housing cities may additionally lose their Pro-Housing designation, disincentivizing the very housing leadership that is needed in rural areas.
The City of Ukiah’s 6th Cycle RHNA was 239 housing units. Ukiah’s 7th Cycle RHNA is 1,500.
The City of Arcata’s 6th Cycle RHNA was ____ housing units. Arcata’s 7th Cycle RHNA is ___.
The City of Fort Bragg’s 6th Cycle RHNA was ____ housing units. Fort Bragg’s 7th Cycle RHNA is ___.
The City of Eureka’s 6th Cycle RHNA was ____ housing units. Eureka’s 7th Cycle RHNA is ___. (List other cities’ 6th vs. 7th cycle RHNA assignments).
But all is not lost. We propose two potential solutions.
Solution #1: Reduce the overall RHNA assignment for our three counties by a factor associated with the population size of each county and city within each county.
We agree that wealthier and larger growing communities deserve a greater share of RHNA, and that in these cities setting aggressive housing production targets makes sense. Some cities in the Sacramento area, for example, are experiencing growth rates approaching 10%.
We propose a reduction in the RHNA assignment for rural cities with populations less than 25,000 that are in “non-urban counties,” defined as counties with populations less than 200,000.
The RHNA assignment reduction would be based off two objective factors:
1) Historical growth rates over the previous (6th) Housing Element cycle • If average growth is 0% or less, RHNA assignment is reduced by 25%. 2) Past housing performance over the previous (6th) Housing Element cycle • Did the city implement pro-housing policies? Yes/No
• Were new housing units constructed, and did the city make adequate progress in achieving its assigned RHNA? Yes/No
• Has the city been designated a Pro-Housing city by HCD? Yes/No o If yes to any of the above, RHNA reduction of 25%.
(Objective factors in-progress based on input from represented cities) Solution #2: For rural cities in non-urban counties, eliminate the role of Associations and Councils of Government in the RHNA process, as well as eliminating the requirement that each local government prepare an individual Housing Element. Instead, require one regional housing element produced by each county in collaboration with incorporated cities of the county.
This solution accomplishes two goals- it significantly reduces the amount of paperwork and costs for the preparation of a significant state policy-driven planning document; and it requires that cities and counties plan for housing at a regional scale. Such shared ownership and collaboration related to housing may produce the type of housing production sought by both local and state government officials, as well as our local communities.
Agenda Item No: 14.d.
MEETING DATE/TIME: 10/7/2026
ITEM NO: 2026-1526
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SUBJECT: Receive Updates on City Council Committee and Ad Hoc Assignments, and, if Necessary, Consider Modifications to Assignments and/or the Creation/Elimination of Ad Hoc(s).
DEPARTMENT: City Clerk PREPARED BY: Kristine Lawler, City Clerk PRESENTER: Mayor Sher and Various Councilmembers
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2026 City Council Special Assignments & Ad Hocs
Summary: City Council members will provide reports and updates on their committee and ad hoc assignments. If necessary, the Council may consider modifications.
Background: City Council members are assigned to a number of committees and ad hoc activities. These assignments are included as Attachment 1.
Discussion: Previously, the City Council discussed having more time allocated to reporting on committee and ad hoc activities. Often, the Council Reports section of the regular agenda is rushed due to impending business (i.e., public hearings), and not enough time is afforded for reports beyond community activities.
In an effort to foster regular updates on committee and ad hoc assignments, this item is being placed on the agenda to provide the City Council members an expanded opportunity to report on assignments and modify assignments as necessary.
Recommended Action: Receive report(s). The Council will consider modifications to committee and ad hoc assignments along with the creation/elimination ad hoc(s).
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: N/A
CURRENT BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
PROPOSED BUDGET AMOUNT: N/A
FINANCING SOURCE: N/A
REVENUE: No GRANT: No
PREVIOUS CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER NO.: N/A
COORDINATED WITH: N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN (SP): N/A
GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS (GP): N/A
2026 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT LIST
LOCAL / UKIAH VALLEY MTG DATE/TIME MEETING LOCATION MAILING ADDRESS/CONTACT COMMITTEE FUNCTION ASSIGNED TO PRINCIPAL STAFF SUPPORT Investment Oversight Committee Varies
Civic Center
300 Seminary Ave.Ukiah, CA 95482
Civic Center300 Seminary Ave.Ukiah, CA 95482
Reviews City investments, policies, and strategies
CraneOrozco - Alternate
Alan Carter, Treasurer
Dan Buffalo, Director of Finance; 463-6220
[email protected]
Disaster Council
Shall meet a minimum of once a year at a time and place designated upon call of the chair Place designated upon call of the chair or, if she/he is unavailable or unable to call such meeting, the first vice chair and then the City Manager or her/his designee.
Office of Emergency Management
300 Seminary Ave. Ukiah, CA 95482467-5720 - Traci Boyl
Develop any necessary emergency and mutual aid plans, agreements, ordinances, resolutions, rules, and regulations.
OrozcoCriss - Alternate Traci Boyl, City Manager's Office Management Analyst; 467-5720; [email protected] Greater Ukiah Business & Tourism Alliance (GUPTA)
4th Monday of month, 10 a.m.
200 S School St.Ukiah, CA 95482
200 S School St.Ukiah, CA 95482
Promotes tourism and works to strengthen and promote the historic downtown and businesses within the greater Ukiah area Marianne Davison - Community Services Department Staff Orozco - Alternate Shannon Riley, Deputy City Manager;
467-5793 [email protected]
Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission (IWPC) 2nd Thursday of month, 6:00 p.m.
Civic Center
300 Seminary Avenue
conference room 5
IWPC Staff P.O. Box 1247Ukiah, CA 95482391-7574 - Candace Horsley Develops coordination for water resources and current water rights: Potter Valley project - Eel River Diversion
RodinOrozco - Alternate
Jared Walker, Director of Water Resources; 467-5712, [email protected] North Coast Opportunities (NCO) 4th Wednesday of month, 2 p.m. Alternating locations - Ukiah and Lakeport Governing Board Chair
North Coast Opportunities413 North State Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
Assist low income and disadvantaged people to become self reliant Neil Davis Neil Davis, City [email protected] Sun House Guild ex officio 2nd Tuesday of month, 10:30 a.m. Sun House 431 S. Main St. Ukiah, CA 431 S. Main Street Ukiah, CA 95482 467-2836 Support and expand Grace Hudson Museum Orozco, Sher Jake Burgess - Alternate David Burton, Museum Director; 467-2836 [email protected] Ukiah Men's Golf Club Liaison 1st Tuesday of month, 4 - 5 pm Golf Course Clubhouse 599 Park Blvd. Golf Course Clubhouse 599 Park Blvd [email protected] An association of male golfers who promote and support golf in Ukiah. Jake Burgess Jake Burgess, Community Services Director; 463- 6201, [email protected] Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) 2nd Thursday of month, 1:30 p.m.
Board of Supervisors Chambers; 501 Low
Gap RoadUkiah, CA
County Executive Office
501 Low Gap Rd., Rm. 1010Ukiah, CA 95482463-4441
GSA serves as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency in the Ukiah Valley basin CraneN/A - Alternate
Jared Walker, Director of Water Resources; 467-5712, [email protected]
MENDOCINO COUNTY MTG DATE/TIME MEETING LOCATION MAILING ADDRESS/CONTACT COMMITTEE FUNCTION ASSIGNED TO PRINCIPAL STAFF SUPPORT City Selection Committee Called as required by the Clerk of the Board BOS Conference Room 501 Low Gap Rd. Rm. 1090 Ukiah, CA C/O: BOS 501 Low Gap Rd., Rm 1090 Ukiah, CA 95482 463-4441 Makes appointments to LAFCO and Airport Land Use Commission (Mayor - Primary; Vice Mayor - Alternate) Mayor Sher Vice Mayor Orozco Kristine Lawler, City Clerk; 463-6217 [email protected] Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC)
2nd Thursday of month, 2:00 p.m.
Primarily 631 S. Orchard Street (location varies)
Executive Director631 South Orchard AvenueUkiah, CA 95482467-5953 Multi-agency co-op for economic development and business loan program Riley (appointed 12/19/18) Shannon Riley, Deputy City Manager; 467-5793 [email protected] Library Advisory Board
3rd Wednesdays of alternate months; 1:00
p.m.
Various Mendocino County Libraries Ukiah County Library 463-4491 Review library policy and activities Sher Rodin - Alternate Kristine Lawler, City Clerk; 463-6217; [email protected] Mendocino County 1st District Liaison Monthly; TBD
Civic Center Annex
conference room #5411 West Clay St.Ukiah, CA 95482
Civic Center
300 Seminary Ave.Ukiah, CA 95482
To coordinate activities and policy development with the City's 1st District Supervisor Crane Rodin - Alternate
Sage Sangiacomo, City Manager;
463-6221; [email protected]
Mendocino County 2nd District Liaison 1st Wednesdays of month, 8:00 a.m.
Civic Center Annex
conference room #5411 West Clay St.Ukiah, CA 95482
Civic Center
300 Seminary Ave.Ukiah, CA 95482
To coordinate activities and policy development with the County's 2nd District Supervisor CrissRodin - Alternate
Shannon Riley, Deputy City Manager;467-5793 [email protected] Mendocino Council of Governments
(MCOG)
1st Monday of month, 1:30 p.m.
Board of Supervisors Chambers
501 Low Gap RoadUkiah, CA
Executive Director
367 N. State Street, Ste. 206
Ukiah, CA 95482
463-1859
Plan and allocate State funding, transportation, infrastructure and project County wide Criss Sher - Alternate
Tim Eriksen, Public Works Director/City Engineer;
463-6280 [email protected] Schlatter, Community Development Director; 463-6219; [email protected]
Mendocino County Airport Land Use Commission As needed
BOS Conference Room
501 Low Gap Rd., Rm. 1090,Ukiah, CA
Mendocino County Executive Office
501 Low Gap Rd. Rm. 1010 Ukiah, CA 95482
To formulate a land use compatibility plan, provide for the orderly growth of the airport and the surrounding area, and safeguard the general welfare of the inhabitants within the vicinity Liaisons: Owen/Schlatter
Greg Owen, Airport Manager; 467-2855; [email protected] Craig Schlatter, Director of Community
Development; 463-6219; [email protected]
Mendocino Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCo)
1st Monday of month, 9:00 a.m. Board of Supervisors Chambers Executive Director200 S. School Street, Ste. 2
Ukiah, CA 95482
463-4470
Required by legislation - planning spheres of influence, annexation, service areas, and special districts RodinCrane - Alternate for both city seat
members on Commission
Craig Schlatter, Director of Community Development; 463-6219; [email protected] Updated: 2/5/2026
Attachment 1
2026 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT LIST
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Continued MTG DATE/TIME MEETING LOCATION MAILING ADDRESS/CONTACT COMMITTEE FUNCTION ASSIGNED TO PRINCIPAL STAFF SUPPORT Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA)
3rd Thursday of every other month (varies), 10:00 a.m.
Willits Council Chambers
Solid Waste Director3200 Taylor DriveUkiah, CA 95482468-9710 County-wide Solid Waste JPA Crane Sher - Alternate Tim Eriksen, Public Works Director/City Engineer; 463-6280 [email protected] Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) Board of Directors
Last Wednesday of month, 1:30 p.m.
Alternating locations - Ukiah Conference Center or Fort Bragg, or Point Arena Executive Director241 Plant RoadUkiah, CA 95482462-1422 County-wide bus transportation issues and funding Sher Rodin - Alternate Tim Eriksen, Public Works Director/City Engineer; 463-6280 [email protected] Mendocino Youth Project JPA Board of Directors
3rd Wednesday of month, 7:45 a.m. 776 S. State Street Conference Room Mendocino Co. Youth Project776 S. State Street, Ste. 107Ukiah, CA 95482 707-463-4915 Targets all youth with a focus on drug and alcohol prevention, healthy alternatives and empowering youth to make healthy choices Criss Max Brazill, Admin Lieutenant - Alternate
Tom Corning, Police Chief; 463-6254;
[email protected]
Russian River Flood Control District (RRFCD) Liaison
1st Monday of month, 5:30 p.m.
151 Laws Ave.,Suite D Ukiah, CA
151 Laws Ave., Ukiah, CA 95482; [email protected]; 462-5278 Proactively manage the water resources of the upper Russian River for the benefit of the people and environment of Mendocino County Walker/Orozco Jared Walker, Director of Water Resources; 467-5712, [email protected]
Ukiah Players Theater Board of Directors
3rd Tuesday of month, 6:00 p.m
1041 Low Gap Rd Ukiah, CA 95482 462-1210
1041 Low Gap RdUkiah, CA 95482462-1210
To oversee the activities, organization and purpose of the Ukiah Players Theater Greg Owen, Airport Manager(appointed 12/19/18)
Kristine Lawler, City Clerk; 463-6217 [email protected] Ukiah Unified School District (UUSD) Committee Quarterly 511 S. Orchard, Ste. D Ukiah, CA 95482 511 S. Orchard Ukiah, CA 95482 Information exchange with UUSD Board Chair, Mayor, Superintendent, and City Manager Orozco, Criss Sage Sangiacomo, City Manager Tom Corning, Police Chief Sage Sangiacomo, City Manager; 463-6221 [email protected]
REGIONAL MTG DATE/TIME LOCATION MAILING ADDRESS/CONTACT COMMITTEE FUNCTION ASSIGNED TO PRINCIPAL STAFF SUPPORT Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) Bi-monthly, 3rd Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Various Locations - announced 419 Talmage Road, Suite M Ukiah, CA 95482 463-3280 Provides a unified and revitalized rail infrastructure meeting the freight and passenger needs of the region Rodin Sher- Alternate Jake Burgess, Community Services Director 463-6201, [email protected] League of California Cities Redwood Empire Legislative Committee Prior to Division Meetings, meets 3x in person and then via conference call Various locations that are announced
Redwood Empire League President; Public Affairs Program Manager (916) 658-8243 Elected city officials and professional city staff attend division meetings throughout the year to share what they are doing and advocate for their interests in Sacramento OrozcoCriss - Alternate
Sage Sangiacomo, City Manager; 463-6221
[email protected]
Russian River Watershed Association (RRWA)
4th Thursday of month, 9:00 a.m. (only 5 times a year)
Windsor Town Hall9291 Old Redwood Hwy, #400Windsor, CA 95492707-838-1000 Russian River Watershed Association 2235 Mercury Way, Suite 105Santa Rose, CA [email protected] 707-508-3670 (message only) Consider issues related to Russian river - plans projects and funding requests RodinSher - Alternate
Tim Eriksen, Public Works Director/City Engineer;
463-6280 [email protected]
Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) - Commission
4th Thursday of month, 9:00 a.m. (see NCPA calendar)
Roseville, CA and other locations
651 Commerce Drive Roseville, CA 95678916-781-4202
Pool of State and local power utilities developing and operating power generation, providing scheduling and related energy services and providing regulatory and legislative support.
Crane - Commissioner Sher - City Council Alternate Sauers - Alternate and Commissioner in absence of Commissioner Crane
Cindy Sauers - Electric Utility Director;463-6286 [email protected] Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) – Lodi Energy Center (LEC) Appointment 2nd Monday of month, 10:00 AM Lodi, CA and other locations 651 Commerce DriveRoseville, CA 95678916-781-4299
Committee oversees the operation, maintenance and expenditures of the LEC 300 MW generating project.
Sauers – Project Participate Appointee
Cindy Sauers, Electric Utility Director,463-6286, [email protected] Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC)
4th Wednesday of month, 10 a.m. 35 Iron Point Circle Suite 225 Folsom, CA 35 Iron Point Cir #225Folsom, CA 95630916-852-1673; [email protected] Provide electric transmission to its Member utilities through transmission line ownership or contract arrangements.
CraneSauers - Alternate
Cindy Sauers - Electric Utility Director;
463-6286 [email protected]
STANDING COMMITTEES MTG DATE/TIME LOCATION MAILING ADDRESS/CONTACT COMMITTEE FUNCTION ASSIGNED TO PRINCIPAL STAFF SUPPORT Diversity and Equity TBD Virtual Meeting Room (link to be created) Civic Center 300 Seminary Ave. Ukiah, CA 95482 Improve diversity and equity in the City’s workforce and municipal services Orozco/Criss Traci Boyl, City Manager's Office Management Analyst; 467-5720; [email protected] Fire Executive Committee
2nd Tue, every other month beginning in January; 5:00 p.m.
Ukiah Valley Conference Center,200 S. School Street Ukiah, CA Civic Center300 Seminary Ave.Ukiah, CA 95482 [email protected] Per the recently adopted agreement between the City of Ukiah and the Ukiah Valley Fire Protection District Orozco/SherAlternates: Criss
Doug Hutchison, Fire Chief; 463-6263;
[email protected]
Countywide Oversight Board to the RDA Successor Agencies 4th Thursday of January, 4:00 p.m.; meets annually
Ukiah Valley Conference Center,200 S. School Street Ukiah, CA City of UkiahATTN: City Clerk300 Seminary Ave.Ukiah, CA 95482 Oversee and direct the Successor Agencies of the former redevelopment agencies Crane Dan Buffalo, Director of Finance; 463-6220 [email protected] Lawler, City Clerk; 463-6217, [email protected] Water Executive Committee(Ukiah Valley Water Authority) 1st Tue of each month
at 5:00 p.m.
Ukiah Valley Conference Center,200 S. School Street Ukiah, CA City of UkiahATTN: Water Resources 300 Seminary Ave.Ukiah, CA 95482 Oversight of UVWA; set annual budget for the combined water system; Manage rates and collect levies; modify existing water rights for the provision of water service; mediation and dispute resolution; Crane/Orozco Jared Walker, Director of Water Resources; 467-5712, [email protected] Updated: 2/5/2026
COMMITTEE ASSIGNED TO PRINCIPAL STAFF SUPPORT
Electric Grid Operational Improvements Crane/Orozco Cindy Sauers, Electric Utility Director; 463-6286 [email protected]
UVSD/ City Relations
Ad hoc committee to address specific issues with the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District, including discussion of overall sewer system service delivery policies, operating policy revisions, potential revisions to the current Operating Agreement, and cost sharing
Crane/Orozco
Dan Buffalo, Director of Finance;
463-6220 [email protected]
Jared Walker, Water Resources Director
467-5712, [email protected]
Complete Streets Rodin/Crane
Tim Eriksen, Public Works Director/City Engineer;
463-6280 [email protected]
Shannon Riley, Deputy City Manager
467-5793 [email protected]
Jake Burgess, Community Services Director
463-6201 [email protected]
Special Districts (Water District Consolidation) Orozco/Crane Shannon Riley, Deputy City Manager 467-5793 [email protected]
Corp Yard Planning Crane/Orozco Jason Benson, Senior Civil Engineer 463-6284 [email protected]
Mendocino County Courthouse Project and Reuse Sher/Orozco Shannon Riley, Deputy City Manager 467-5793 [email protected]
City's 150-Year Anniversary Planning Orozco/Rodin Shannon Riley, Deputy City Manager 467-5793 [email protected]
Airport Policy Criss/Crane Craig Schlatter, Community Development Director 463-6219 [email protected]
Parks & Recreation Special District Exploration Rodin/Orozco Jake Burgess, Community Services Director 463-6201 [email protected]
Downtown Zoning Code Crane/Rodin Jesse Davis, Chief Planning Manager 463-6207, [email protected]
Tourism Advisory Committee Rodin/Sher Shannon Riley, Deputy City Manager 467-5793 [email protected]
Historic Preservation Code Sher/Criss Craig Schlatter, Community Development Director 463-6219 [email protected]
Fire Severity Rodin/Orozco Craig Schlatter, Community Development Director 463-6219 [email protected]
CalPERS Crane/Orozco Dan Buffalo, Director of Finance;
463-6220 [email protected]
City Council Handbook Review and Update Sher Kristine Lawler, City Clerk 463-6217; [email protected]
Energy Resilience Sher/Orozco Cindy Sauers, Electric Utility Director; 463-6286 [email protected]
2026 AD HOC COMMITTEES
*Note: Changing the composition of an existing ad-hoc among current councilmembers after work has begun presents potential Brown Act issues. Requests for fully filled ad-hocs are represented on the draft, but staff does not recommend changes except to fill vacated assignments. The current requests on the sheet for fully composed ad-hocs are primarily intended to convey interest in topics covered by these ad-hoc committees for possible future consideration of new assignments.
Updated: 9/3/2026