HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3c: Resolution 6710 Local Hazard Mitigation PlanSUMMARY
BACKGROUND
Fire Department
DATE: March 2, 2010
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tony L. Trabbie, Fire Chief
By: Barry Spriggs, Battalion Chiet
SUBJECT: Report and Recommendation to Approve Resolution No. 6710
Supporting the City of Arcadia's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan in
Compliance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000).
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution
This report requests City Council approval of the City of Arcadia's Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (LHMP). This plan was developed as a requirement by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update and review the city's approved
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan adopted by Council in 2004.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 6710 Approving the City
of Arcadia's 2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) amended the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistant Act (the Act) by repealing the previous
mitigation planning section and replacing it with Section 322.
The laws established the mitigation planning requirements for local governments and
requires that in order to remain eligible to receive federal funding for both pre - disaster
and post- disaster mitigation project funding, a local govemment must have a FEMA
approved LHMP written in accordance with Section 322 of the Act. The law requires
that local governments review and update their LHMP every five years.
Mayor and City Council
March 2, 2010
Page 2
DISCUSSION
Emergencies and disasters result in significant damage to our communities,
businesses, public infrastructure and our environment. Emergencies and disasters can
cause death or leave people injured or displaced. In addition, disasters cost
tremendous amounts of money in terms of response, recovery expense, and economic
loss.
Hazard mitigation planning before a disaster can reduce or eliminate losses of life and
property. After disasters, repairs and reconstruction are often completed in such a way
as to simply restore to pre- disaster conditions. Such efforts expedite a return to normal
functioning; however, the replications of pre- disaster conditions result in a cycle of
damage, reconstruction and repeated damage. Hazard mitigation planning ensures that
such cycles are broken and that post- disaster repairs and reconstruction result in
vulnerability reduction.
While disasters cannot be prevented, the effects can be reduced or eliminated through .
a well- organized public education and awareness efforts, preparedness and mitigation.
For those hazards that cannot be fully mitigated, the community must be prepared to
provide efficient and effective response and recovery.
The mission of the 2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is to promote sound public policy
designed to protect residents, critical facilities, infrastructure, private property, and the
environment, from natural and human caused hazards. This mission will be achieved
by increasing public awareness, documenting resources for risk reduction and loss-
prevention, and identification of activities that will guide the City toward building a safer,
more sustainable community.
The 2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan has been prepared after a coordination of efforts
and resources by the Fire Department, Police Department, Administrative Services
Department, Public Works Services Department, Recreation and Community Services
Department and Development Services Department. The City of Arcadia held a public
workshop, a stake holders meeting and a public education demonstration about the
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan within the City to gather public ideas and opinions about
mitigation goals and activities. The City of Arcadia also conducted a stakeholders
meeting which included emergency service coordinators within the region,
representatives from the Arcadia Unified School District, American Red Cross, Santa
Anita Race Track, Arcadia Lyons Club and the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce.
The local hazard mitigation plan looked into eight possible hazards that could impact the
City of Arcadia. These hazards include earthquake, wildfire, debris flow /landslide,
flooding, high winds, drought, hazardous materials and terrorism. The plan also looked
at the goals set in the previous plan and if those goals were met.
The plan itself is over 100 pages in length, excluding appendices and maps. Due to its
size, it was not feasible to make copies but it is available for review in the City
Manager's office, City Clerk's office and the Library.
Mayor and City Council
March 2, 2010
Page 3_
The resources and information cited in the mitigation plan provide a strong local
perspective and help identify strategies and activities to make Arcadia more disaster
resilient. Furthermore, adoption of the LHMP by the local jurisdiction's governing body
is one of the prime requirements for approval of the plan by FEMA.
After resolution 6710 is adopted by City Council, the document will be sent to the
California Emergency Management Agency (CALEMA) for review. After CALEMA
review, the LHMP is sent to FEMA for final review. Both of these review periods can
take up to forty -five days. In the event that CALEMA or FEMA deems a section of the
LHMP in need of improvement, the recommended changes will be made and
documented without the LHMP coming back before council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of Resolution No. 6710 has no fiscal impact to the City. Arcadia will have the
opportunity to implement recommended mitigation action items through existing
programs and procedures.
Failure to adopt a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan will forfeit the City of Arcadia's eligibility
of federal funding for disaster assistance.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 6710, approving the City
of Arcadia's 2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, and authorize the City Manager to
modify the plan should amendments become necessary following review by CALEMA
and FEMA.
Approved: „Dtfi'1 a �.,J
Don Penman, City Manager
RESOLUTION 6710
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING THE 2010 LOCAL
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
WHEREAS, the City of Arcadia recognizes that on October 30 2000, the Disaster
Mitigation Act of 2000 ( "DMA ") was signed into law, amending provisions of the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act of 1988; and
WHEREAS, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106 -390) states that
for a community to receive pre- disaster and post- disaster funds and Federal Emergency
Management Funds, a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan ( "LHMP ") must be submitted to the
California Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management
Agency ( "FEMA "), and the failure to submit a plan will disqualify a community from
receiving disaster assistance; and
WHEREAS, the DMA reinforces the importance of pre- disaster infrastructure
mitigation planning to reduce disaster losses nationwide because it focuses on planning
and recognizes the significance of hazard mitigation planning at the local level, and the
necessity for effective coordination between state and local entities to promote an
integrated, comprehensive approach to mitigation planning; and
WHEREAS, the DMA requires local agencies like the City of Arcadia to develop
and update a mitigation plan that includes a detailed City profile and identification of
specific threats and vulnerabilities within the City, and which sets forth specific
mitigating measures to address such threats and vulnerabilities; and
WHEREAS, the DMA requires detailed documentation of all actions, meetings,
studies and directives undertaken in furtherance of the DMA plan; and
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WHEREAS, the DMA includes new criteria for local mitigation planning, including
the development and submittal of mitigation plans as a condition to receiving Local
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds; and
WHEREAS, the City of Arcadia has met all federal requirements of the Stafford
Act and applicable amendments, and has further met all requirements of the Disaster
Mitigation Act of 2000, including development of and updating the Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan through public participation and steering committee establishment, and
development of a maintenance program for annual plan review and federal plan review
every five (5) years.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA,
CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to the foregoing recitals, the following findings and
determinations are hereby made:
1. The City of Arcadia's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is subject to a statutory
exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines, Section 15252 because it is a feasibility and planning study;
2. The City Council expresses its full support for, and willingness to devote
appropriate resources to, the DMA program and the adoption of a DMA
plan for the City; and
3. The City Council supports the active participation of all interested
agencies, departments, community groups, and the public with respect to
the DMA program.
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SECTION 2. The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is consistent with the City's
General Plan in that it implements the following Public Safety Element goals,
objectives and Policies:
1. Establishment and enforcement of standards and criteria to reduce
unacceptable levels of fire and geologic risk;
2. Development of stringent site criteria for construction in areas with fire and /or
geologic risks and /or problems and prohibition of construction if these criteria
are not met;
3. Encouragement of continued research in the fields of geologic and fire safety;
4. Strengthening of existing codes and ordinances pertaining to fire and geologic
hazards;
5. Requirement that all new developments and selected existing developments
comply with established fire and geologic safety standards;
6. Improvement of programs and practices for dealing with land subsidence and
erosion;
7. Expansion of public education programs pertaining to fire and geologic risks
and /or problems;
8. Encouragement of improved fire and geologic hazard insurance programs;
9. Review and improvement of disaster preparedness and emergency response
capabilities;
10. Increase in cooperation and coordination between the various jurisdictions
and agencies involved in fire protection and the mitigation of geologic
problems.
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SECTION 3. The City Council hereby approves and adopts the City of
Arcadia 2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of the Resolution.
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Passed, approved and adopted this
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephen P. Deitsch
City Attorney
4
day of , 2010.
Mayor of the City of Arcadia