Agenda Item No.
CITY OF YUCAIPA
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: i�Raymond A. Casey, City Manager
AtSherrie M. O'Connell, Emergency Services Coordinator
FOR: City Council Meeting of March 28, 2022
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2022-16 - Termination of Local Emergency for the El Dorado Fire
RECOMMENDATION:
That City Council adopt Resolution No. 2202-16 proclaiming the termination of the El Dorado Fire local emergency.
EL DORADO FIRE BACKGROUNDIDISCUSSION:
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 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, -15-
City Council Agenda Report
Extending Local Emergency Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
For Meeting of March 28, 2022
and staff has submitted the necessary paperwork to FEMA and NRCS for reimbursement. The 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.
On October 25, 2021, City staff requested an additional 90-day extension for the completion of the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Measures Phase I1 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 the new completion date of March 17, 2022, and staff has reported that the project is now complete.
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.
Conditions of extreme peril due the El Dorado Fire no longer exist; thus, the extension of the declaration is no longer warranted. City staff will continue to work with NRCS for reimbursement and will provide any needed information for their ongoing review.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None at this time.
Attachments:
• Resolution No. 2022-16
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RESOLUTION NO. 2022-16
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YUCAIPA,
CALIFORNIA, PROCLAIMING THE TERMINATION OF THE EL DORADO
FIRE LOCAL EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, on September 5, 2020, the El Dorado Fire in the City of Yucaipa, posed a significant threat and left in its wake dangerous conditions, at which time the City Council was not in session; and
WHEREAS, in response to the emergency created by the El Dorado Fire, the City Manager proclaimed a local state of emergency on September 6, 2020; and WHEREAS, on September 10, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-58 ratifying the City Manager's proclamation of the existence of a local emergency in accordance with the City of Yucaipa Municipal Code Section 8.36.075 and state law; WHEREAS, the situation resulting from said conditions of extreme peril is now deemed to be within the control of normal and contacted services, personnel, equipment and facilities of and within the City of Yucaipa.
NOW, THEREFORE, The City Council of the City of Yucaipa, State of California, does hereby proclaim the termination of the El Dorado Fire local emergency.
The City Clerk shall certify as to the adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Yucaipa this 281h day of March 2022.
ATTEST:
Jennifer Crawford
City Clerk
David Avila
Mayor
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