Town of Yountville
Staff Report
6550 Yount Street
Yountville, CA 94599
Agenda Item #: {{section.number}}B
Yountville Town Council Staff Report
DATE: September 17, 2024
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Ken MacNab, Interim Community Development Director PREPARED BY: Ken MacNab, Interim Community Development Director Mackenzie Anderson, Assistant Town Attorney
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution Number 24-4309 approving an Amendment to the Safety Element of the Yountville General Plan to Incorporate by Reference the 2020 Napa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
BACKGROUND
The Safety Element is one of nine State-mandated elements required to be included in the Town’s General Plan. Its purpose is to address the protection of Town residents from unreasonable risks associated with disasters, including earthquakes, floods, fires, and climate change. The Safety Element provides a framework for governing future decisions about how the Town will provide a safe community and protect the community from natural and man-made hazards.
The 2020 Napa County Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies prevalent hazards within the County and how hazards may affect the County and participating cities and special districts differently based upon proximities to natural hazards. The plan also identifies risks to vulnerable assets, both people and property. The mitigation strategy presented in this plan responds to the identified vulnerabilities within each community and provides prescriptions or actions to achieve the greatest risk reduction based upon available resources.
Safety Elements and Hazard Mitigation Plans are documents that characterize local hazard and climate risks and guide resiliency planning efforts.
The passage of the Disaster Mitigation Act in 2000 (DMA 2000) requires proactive pre-disaster planning as a condition of receiving certain federal financial assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Act. DMA 2000 encourages state and local authorities to work together on pre-disaster planning to assist local governments to accurately assess mitigation needs, resulting in faster allocation of funding and more cost-effective risk reduction projects under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance program.
DISCUSSION
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimburses local governments for 75% of eligible disaster mitigation costs for federally-declared natural disasters. Under the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA), the State of California may pay up to 75% of the remaining 25% of eligible costs for any state-declared emergency. California Government Code Section 8685.9 (also known as Assembly Bill 2140 or AB 2140) authorizes the State to pay for more than 75% of the remaining eligible costs if the Town adopts a local hazard mitigation plan (LHMP) that is consistent with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and incorporated into its General Plan.
On May 19, 2020, the Town of Yountville adopted Resolution No 20-3988 approving the “2020 Napa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan” (MJHMP). The MJHMP was reviewed by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and approved by FEMA Region IX officials on August 13, 2020. The Town is required to review and update the MJHMP every five years in order to receive State and Federal assistance for certain types of hazard mitigation projects (44 C.F.R. § 201.6(d)(3)). The MJHMP will need to be revised and readopted in 2025.
Under AB 2140, the Town will be eligible for greater disaster assistance for state emergencies if it incorporates the MJHMP by reference into the Safety and Hazards Element of its General Plan.
ZDRB REVIEW
A noticed public hearing on the proposed amendment to the General Plan Safety Element was held before the Yountville Zoning and Design Review Board (ZDRB) at a Special Meeting on August 27, 2024. After receiving a presentation from Town staff, review of information contained in the staff report, and deliberations, the ZDRB passed a resolution recommending approval to the Town Council (Attachment 2).
FINDINGS
Staff believes the findings required by Yountville Municipal Code (YMC) 17.184.060 for General Plan amendments can be made as follows:
1. The proposed amendment(s) would further the goals, objectives, policies and programs and is consistent with the intent of the General Plan;
The purpose of the amendment specifically applies to furthering funding for the Town in the event of a disaster. Specifically, the amendment directly or indirectly furthers the following goals and policies within the Safety and Hazards Element within the Town’s General Plan: Goal SH-1, Maintain high levels of public safety and emergency preparedness, SH-1.9, Emergency Management, minimize exposure to all hazards through emergency management, planning and training; SH-1.9g, Disaster recovery, develop a disaster recovery plan that provides for efficient and effective coordination, recovery assessment, resource utilization, and policy guidance during the disaster recovery process. Furthermore, the amendment would not create any inconsistencies with the General Plan. The amendment would further the goals, objectives, policies and programs and is consistent with the intent of the General Plan.
2. The proposed amendment(s) would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the Town;
The purpose of the amendment specifically applies to furthering funding for the Town in the event of a disaster. Specifically, the amendment directly or indirectly furthers the following goals and policies within the Safety and Hazards Element within the Town’s General Plan: Goal SH-1, Maintain high levels of public safety and emergency preparedness, SH-1.9, Emergency Management, minimize exposure to all hazards through emergency management, planning and training; SH-1.9g, Disaster recovery, develop a disaster recovery plan that provides for efficient and effective coordination, recovery assessment, resource utilization, and policy guidance during the disaster recovery process. Thus, the amendment would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the Town.
3. For amendments involving a zoning or land use map amendment, the site is physically suitable, including consideration of physical constraints, access, compatibility with surrounding land uses, and provision of utilities, for the requested or potential land uses.
The proposed amendment does not involve a zoning or land use map amendment.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This General Plan amendment is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) (no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment). CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) exempts projects from environmental review where it can be seen with certainty there is no possibility the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. It can be seen with certainty that the General Plan amendment will not have a significant effect on the environment because the amendment merely updates the General Plan to reflect the Town Council’s prior adoption of the 2020 Napa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Moreover, the 2020 Napa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan acts as a guidebook for hazard mitigation strategies and does not implement any specific project, action, or funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
Is there a Fiscal Impact? No
Is it Currently Budgeted? N/A
Where is it Budgeted? N/A
Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? Discretionary
Is there a Staff Resource Impact? No
STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL
Is item Identified in Strategic Plan? Yes
If yes, Identify Strategic Goal and Objective. Responsible Fiscal Policy: The Town maintains its fiscal health through policies designed to maximize economic opportunities, manage expenses, and ensure prudent reserves.
Briefly Explain Relationship to Strategic Plan Goal and Objective. Briefly Explain Relationship to Strategic Plan Goal and Objective. Approving the General Plan amendment to incorporate by reference the 2020 Napa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan makes the Town eligible to receive additional funding from the State through the California Disaster Assistance Act and the Federal Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution 24-4309 amending the Safety and Hazards Element of the Town’s General Plan to incorporate the 2020 Napa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan by reference.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Town Council Resolution Number 24-4309
1a. Amended Safety Element
2. Zoning and Design Review Board (ZDRB) Resolution No. 24-016 WEB LINKS (FOR REFERENCE):
3. 2020 Napa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan:
a. Volume 1
b. Volume 2