Agenda Item No. 6
CITY OF YUCAIPA
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROfQ: OA,//Raymond A. Casey, City Manager
Sherrie M. O'Connell, Emergency Services Coordinator
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FOR: b City Council Meeting of February 28, 2022
SUBJECT: Extending the Existence of a Local Emergency Due to the El Dorado Fire RECOMMENDATION:
That City Council review the need to continue the local emergencies, thereby recognizing the continued existence of perilous conditions as a result of the El Dorado Fire, and direct staff as deemed appropriate.
ELDORADO FIRE BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
On September 6, 2020, the Yucaipa City Manager proclaimed a Local Emergency due to the EL Dorado Fire in Yucaipa. The fire burned approximately 22,744 acres and was 100% contained on November 16, 2020.
Staff monitored the burn scar during the winter storm season, which included a number of meetings with private property owners, San Bernardino County Flood Control District (Flood Control) staff and Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) staff, as well as field reconnaissance visits of the burn area to plan for mitigating potential flooding and mud/debris flow exacerbated by the effects of the fire.
Post -fire watershed assessments were conducted in the burn areas to identify on-site and downstream threats to public health or safety from landslides, debris flow, flooding, road hazards and other post -fire related concerns, as well as to determine measures to prevent or mitigate identified threats. Standard preliminary estimates from Flood Control show that storm water and debris runoff volumes will increase as much as 30% from the burn area to the downstream drainage courses.
At the October 12, 2020, City Council Meeting, staff recommended, and Council approved fire mitigation and storm season preparation efforts to be completed in two phases.
At the October 26, 2020, City Council Meeting, staff recommended, and Council approved Resolution No. 2020-64 for the expenditure of funds for public interest and necessity per the City's Municipal Code 2.24.130, Section I. Phase I measures were completed on December 29, 2020, and staff has submitted the necessary paperwork to FEMA and NRCS for reimbursement. The -37-
City Council Agenda Report
Extending Local Emergency for COVID-19 and the El Dorado Fire For Meeting of February 28, 2022
City has received approval for $177,750 (75% of $237,000) plus an additional $17,775 for administrative costs from NRCS, for Phase II efforts, through the emergency declaration.
Reimbursable actions were originally to be completed by August 23, 2021, in order to be eligible under the program/agreement. However, a 90 -day extension was requested and approved, extending the closing date to November 23, 2021.
The City has completed milestones for the project; however, due to the lengthy and extensive required environmental review and cultural resource process involving local, State and Federal Agencies to obtain approvals under an emergency scenario, the City will require additional time to update the cultural resources review with NRCS. Additional time will also be required by the contractor to mobilize and install the recovery and mitigation measures to complete the construction phase of this project within the agreement performance period. On October 25, 2021, City staff requested an additional 90 -day extension for the completion of the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Measures Phase II for the "permanent" relieving of hazards created by natural disasters as a result of the El Dorado Fire. That extension was approved by NRCS with a new completion date of March 17, 2022 and staff has reported that the project is on schedule.
Pursuant to Yucaipa Municipal Code 8.36.160 the City Council shall review, at least every fourteen (14) days, unless waived by the City Council to meet State requirements, until such local emergency is terminated, the need for continuing the local emergency.
Such declaration facilitates the City's response to combat perilous conditions by providing limited immunity for emergency actions of public employees and governing bodies, authorizing the issuance of orders and regulations to protect life and property, and activating pre -established local emergency provisions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The extension of this declaration of local emergency will maintain the City's compliance with State and Federal requirements for emergency response and continue the City's eligibility to receive State and Federal emergency assistance funds.