HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4.C 03/05/2012 'tViCt Iteww#4, C
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DATE: March 5,2012
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TO: Honorable Mayor and Members ofthe^CityCoundiithroughCity Manager
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FROM: Dan St. John, Director ofP.ublic Works and Utili �< '
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SUBJECT: Resolution Approving the ABAG Report "Taming Natural Disasters" as the City
of Petaluma Local Hazard Mitigation Plan -
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:adopt the attached<resolution approving the ABAG
Report "Taming Natural Disasters""as'the City of Petaluma Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
(LHMP).
BACKGROUND
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There is a variety of hazard Mitigation grant funding available•through FEMA. However, in
•order for the City to apply for',this funding, a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan (HMP)
must be in place and updated.periodically. The Association of-Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
does have a FEMA approved plan in place,-and,the City of Petaluma by virtue of its •
membership.in ABAG, its Bay Area,location,,and its,participation•in the planning process of the
FEMA approved plan, is eligible,to'becomeannexed into it:
DISCUSSION •
Annexation into the ABAG Plan allows the City to;become;eligibleto applyfor future hazard
mitigation funding. The goal of a hazard mitigation plan>document is to maintain and enhance a
disaster-resistant region by reducing the potential loss of life;;property damage, and
environmental degradation froth natural disasters, while accelerating economic recovery from
those disasters. •
ABAG's hazard mitigation plan,is a multi-jurisdictional effort to enhance disaster resistance in
the San Francisco Bay Area The counties included within-this effort are Sonoma, Napa, Marin,
Solano, San Francisco,-ContraCosta, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara
The preparation of a LHMP is not mandatory. If a LHMP has not been-adopted-bya local
jurisdiction, then the maximum amount of cost recovery for emergency-response and repair of
,public facilities is 75% of the total eligible costs. If a plan has been adopted, then the State
Legislature may provide for a state share of local costs that exceeds 75% (Government.Code
Agenda Review:
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City Attorney \j Finance Director City Manager 1
Section 8685.9). In addition, an•approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plan makes the local
jurisdiction eligibleifor`certain mitigation11grahts from the State.
Following City Council adoption of the resolution staff will submit the Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan Annex (Attachment 2) to ABAG for annexation into the ABAG Plan, and that will allow
the City to compete for FEMA-funded HIM grant funds.
The title and language of the proposed resolution (Attachment l) were provided by FEMA and
ABAG.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS .
The action may allow the City to reduce its share of matching funds for any future FEMA-
approved projects.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution •
2. City of Petaluma Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex
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Attachment 1
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RESOLUTION'APPROVING'THE ABAGREPORT "TAMING;NATURAL
DISASTERS" AS THE CITY OF PETALUMA LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
WHEREAS, the Bay Area is subject to various;earthquake-related hazards such as ground
• shaking, liquefaction, landsliding, fault surface rupture, and tsunamis; and
WHEREAS, the Bay Area,is subject to various weather-related hazards including wildfires,
floods; and landslides; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma recognizes disasters do not recognize city, county, special
district boundaries; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma seeks to maintain and enhance both a disaster-resistant City
and region by reducing the potential loss of life, property damage, and environmental
degradation from,natural disasters, while accelerating economic recovery from those disasters;
and
WHEREAS, the City of.Petaluma is.committed to increasing°the'disaster resistance of the
infrastructure, health, housing, economy, government services, education, environment, and land
use systems in the City of Petaluma, as well as in the Bay Area as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires all cities, counties, and special
districts to have adopted a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to receive disaster'mitigation funding
from FEMA; and
WHEREAS, ABAG has approved and adopted the ABAG report Taming Natural Disasters as
the multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for the San Francisco Bay Area;
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City of Petaluma adopts, and adapts with its
local annex, this multi-jurisdictional plan as its Local Hazard,Mitigation Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the City of Petaluma commits to
continuing to take:thos-e actions and initiating further actions, as appropriate, as identified in the
City of Petaluma Annex:of that multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
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Attachment 2
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• City of Petaluma
2010
Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan Annex
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City of Petaluma
2010 Local Hazard
• Mitigation Plan .Annex
Table of Contents
Introduction ..1
The Regional Planning Process 1
The Local Planning Process 1
Processes for Updating Plan Sections • 2
Review of Existing Reports, Studies, and Plans 3
Public Meetings 3
Hazards Assessment 4
Past Occurrences Of Disasters (natural and human-induced) 4
Risk Assessment 4
Urban Land Exposure 4
Infrastructure Exposure 5
Exposure of County (City, District)-Owned Buildings,'Plus Critical Healthcare
Facilities and.Schools 6
Repetitive Loss Properties 8
Other risks 8
National Flood Insurance Program 8
Mitigation Goals and Objectives 9
Mitigation Activities and Priorities 10
Evaluation of Progress from 2005,Plan 10
Future Mitigation Actions and Priorities 11
On-Going Mitigation Strategy Programs - .11
Incorporation into Existing Planning:Mechanisms 12
Plan Update Process 12
Mitigation Ptantoints of Contact 13
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Exhibits
Exhibit.A -Regional'`Location Map
Exhibit EN -Web Site Screen Shot of FEMA Disaster:Mitigation Strategies Homepage •
Exhibit B2 -Web Site Screen Shot of FEMA Strategies Comment Form for Public input
Exhibit Cl -Repetitive Loss Property.Map
Exhibit C2 -Repetitive Loss Properties list (2 pages)
Exhibit C3 -Proof.of Public Notice"
Exhibit C4 -Proof of Payment for Public Notice
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Introduction •
Located 40 mites north of San Francisco in the center of"its North-Bay region, the City
of Petaluma is,comprised of 13.9 square miles of land'andt0.1 square mi of water with
a population of 57,941, based on the 2010 census. Petaluma has a well-preserved;
historic City center which includes: many buildings that survived the 1906 San
Franciscaear"thquake. Petalumais';situated at the northern most navigable end of the.
Petaluma River, a tidal estuary thatsnakes southward to San Pablo Bay. See Exhibit A
for Regional Location Map. •
A significant amount of the.City is in the river's flood plain, which overflows its banks
every few years. Above the ,City of Petaluma on the northwest flank of Sonoma
Mountain is the Fairfield Osborn. Preserve, a nature•reserve with•.a diversity of native
flora and fauna. Nearby to the southeast is Totay Lake, the site of prehistoric seasonal .
settlement by Miwok and Porno tribes. it is flanked by the unincorporated
communities of Penngrove to the north and Lakevilte to the south. The Coordinates
for the City-are 338°14'45°N 122°37'53'4W. The 2010-11 City budget is $154,994,550.
The City of Petaluma employs approximately 287 full time employees and provides
both police and fire protection services.
The Regional Planning,Process
The City of Petaluma participated in various ABAG workshops, conferences, and.
meetings, including:
• 5 Sub-regional meetings to review draft priorities and reach consensus on
priorities for mitigation
• 3 ABAG Regional.Planning Committee meetings
• Wildfire Workshop
• 10 Inter-departmental/City Workshops and meetings
The Local Planning Process
In 2007, Consultant to City of Petaluma, Recovery Operations Specialty Services
(R.O.S:S.), participated in ;various ABAG workshops, conferences, and meetings,
including a sub-regional meeting to review draft priorities and reach consensus on
priorities for mitigation. For more information on these meetings and for rosters of
attendees, please see Appendix A and H in the ABAG Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan 2010 (MJ-LHMP). In addition, the City of Petaluma has provided
written and oral comments on the Multi-Jurisdictional Plan and provided information
on facilities that are defined as,"criticat" to ABAG.
The process of preparing this plan was familiar to the City of Petaluma, which has a
Safety Element to its General Plan that includes a discussion of fire, earthquake,
flooding and landslide. hazards. In addition, the City routinely enforces the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which, since 1988 has required mitigation for
2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Elan
City of Petalutna Annex 1 August 24, 2011
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identified natural. hazards. The )City's effort has, been focused on 'building 'on these
pre-existing programs; identifying gaps that now may lead to,disaster-vulnerabilities;
and addressing.the'se risks throughs mitigation.
Many of the activities,conducted by the,:City were 'fed into the planning process for
the Multi-Jurisdictional,Plan. It participatedhin various ABAG workshops and meetings.
In addition, the City has provided oral comments on the Multi-Jurisdictional Plan.
Finally the City provided information on facilities that' are viewed as "critical" to
ABAG.
The City of Petaluma worked'. in conjunction With R.O.S!S., who met with
representatives from multiple'City departments to identify and prioritize appropriate
mitigation.strategies. Participating in these meetings were senior management and
staff from the Fire Service,.Police Service, and the Public Works Department including
planners, building department officials, facility managers, civil engineers, public
health specialists, emergency managers, and police and fire officials.
• Susan Lackie,(Retired) -Budget Grants and Project Manager
• Curtis Bates -City Engineer/Flood Main Administration
• Dave Sears -Police!Lieutenant
• Vince Marengo (Former) -Public`Works Director
• Larry Zimmer- PE -Capital Improvement Manager(actin g as PW Director)
• Fleming Nguyen -Sr,. Civil Engineer -PW Dept
• Larry Andersen -Fire Chief`
At the first individual meetings; updated general priorities and appropriate
departments were identified. Subsequent meetings identified mitigation strategies,
prioritized said strategies; and' reviewed preliminary budgets and potential funding
sources for strategies designated as "high" priority for City-owned-and-operated
facilities.
Processes for updating Plan'Secfions
Representatives from the same departments reviewed the findings°from 2005 and
determined that there Were no revisions-to recommend•to,City:policies and programs
for the 2010 ABAG.Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. No changes had occurred to City
policies since 2005. The 2010 Flan doestincorporate the new data from ABAG,.and the
2010 planning process.
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2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City;ofPetaluina A'rniek 2 August 24, 201.1
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Review of Existing Reports,.Studiesand''Plans.
Existing Reports, Studies, Plans,,and' Method of Incorporation into the
technicaliinformation Jurisdiction Annex •
City of Petaluma General Plan
Hazards Assessment and priority mitigation
actions;and.programs'
City of,Petaluma Emergency Operations Mitigation and Strategies
Center Management Operations Plan
City of Petaluma General Plan 2025 . Mitigation and Strategies
(May 2008)
City of Petaluma,MunicipalCode Mitigation and Strategies
Public Meetings
The City tapped into new technology to facilitate active public participation. Several
varieties of public meetings were held for the public to comment. Technology was a
key part of the City's plan to provide information.. The City website contained
information regarding the update process and the previous Hazard Mitigation Plan,
and, offered the public 'the opportunity to submit comments online. Notice of the
opportunity to submit online comment was posted and the Comment Form made
available, on the website for 3 months.. See Exhibit .B1 for screen shot of the
homepage for the City's website for FEMA Disaster Mitigation Strategies, and Exhibit
B2 for screen shot of the FEMA Strategies Comment Form provided for public Input.
An open community webinar'was also held to encourage and allow public comment.
The meeting was,published in the local newspaper, and posted;,on the City's website.
Public dial in 800 lines were available for comment and input. The DRAFT Mitigation
Strategies and the Final Strategies were also published on the City website. Notices
were published in the local newspaper prior to the events. See Exhibit C3 for Proof of
Public Notice, and Exhibit C4• for Proof ,of Payment for Public Notice. No public
comments were received from either the' webinar meeting or published internet
posting. However, the City will seek further comments prior to and during the
adoption process for the 2011 Plan. The City will also adopt the plan in a public
hearing format that will provide further opportunities for public comment. In
addition, the City will.;publish a press release to the local media and place an
announcement on the city website to further publicize theLlocal.annex document 'and
make the public more aware of the issues and strategies facing the City, prior to the
adoption by the Petaluma City Council.
The City Council will adopt the plan in a public'_meeting via an official Resolution
upon Annex approval by FEMA. The Mitigation Strategies will become an
implementation appendix of the Safety Element of the City of Petaluma General Plan.
2010 Local'Hazard•lvlitigation-Plan
City of Petaluma Annex 3 August 24, 2011
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Hazards.Assessment
. The ABAG Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, to which this is an Annex, •
lists nine hazards' that impact the,Bay Area; five related to earthquakes (faulting,
shaking, earthquake-induced landslides, liquefaction; and tsunamis) and four related
to weather (flooding, landslides, wildfires, and drought)- Maps of these hazards and
risks are shown on the ABAG website at:http://quake:abag.ca.gov/mitigation/.
The City of Petaluma has reviewed the hazards identified and ranked the hazards
based on past disasters and expected future impacts. The conclusion is that
earthquakes (particularly shaking and liquefaction) flooding, wildfire, and. landslides
(including unstable earth).pose a significant:risk for potential loss.
The City of Petaluma does not face:any natural disasters not listed in the ABAG multi-
jurisdictional plan and no new hazards have been' by the City of Petaluma
since the original development of this-plan in 2005.
While the City of Petaluma has undertaken a number of general hazard mapping
activities since the first Safety Element was prepared by"the City!of Petaluma, all of
these maps are less detailed and are not as current as those shown on the ABAG
website at http://quake.abag:ca.gov/mitigation/.
Past Occurrences of Disasters (natural and human-induced)
The City of Petaluma has experienced a number of different disasters over the last 50
years, including numerous earthquakes, floods, energy shortages, landslides, and
severe storms.
The Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989 is another example of the kind of large scale
disaster which can strike the Bay Area. 1t killed,'63 persons; injured 3,757, and
displaced over 12;000. With over 20,000 homes and businesses damaged and over
1,100 destroyed, this quake caused approximately $6 Billion of damage.
Reconstruction continues sonie two decades later as the replacement for Oakland-Bay
Bridge is stilt several years from completion.
More information on State and Federally declared disasters in the City of Petaluma
can be found at:
http:/J.quake.abag.ca.gov/mitigation/ThePlan-D-Version-December09.pdf..
Risk Assessment
Urban Land'Exposure •
Hazard exposure of the City's urban land is based on information in ABAG's website:
http://quake.abaq.ca.gov/mitigation/pickdbh2.html.
2010 Local Hazard'Mitigation Plan
City of Petaluma Annex .4 August 24, 2011
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The "2005 Existing Land Use with,-2009-Mapping" fife was used for this evaluation (in
the existing plan,;C he fife used was.",Existing;Land'Use in 2000").
In general, the hazard:exposure of the City of:Petaluma is increasing.over time as the
amount of urban land exposed to-Flooding increases(In the,last 5'years, 956 additional
acres of land has become exposed to a 100-year floodrand 176 additional urban acres
have been exposed to a 500-year flood).
Exposureu(acres of urban land)
Hazard 2005 2010 Change
Total Acres of UrbanLand' 8226 8205. -21
Earthquake Faulting (within CGS zone) 0 0 0
Earthquake Shaking (within highest two shaking 1028, 1025 -3
categories)
Earthquake-Induced Landsiides,(within CGS study zone 0 0 0
} Liquefaction (within moderate, high, or very high
liquefaction'susceptibility ' 6522 6217 355
Flooding (within 100,year fioodplain)` 125 1081 +956
Flooding (within 500 year-floodplain) 284 460 +176
Landslides (within areas of existing landslides) 1402 1403 +1
Wildfire (subject!to high, very high, or extreme 223 176 -47
wildfire threat)
Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Threat 4116 4140 +24
Dam Inundation (within inundation zone) 0 0 0
Tsunamis within•inundation area) No critical facilities
within threat area
Drought No drotight data available N/A N/A N/A
Infrastructure Exposure
The City of Petaluma also examined the hazard exposure of infrastructure within the
jurisdiction based on the information on ABAG's website at:
http://quake.abae.ca.govlmitigation pickdbh2 htmt.,
In the table below,it shows, of"the;225 miles of roadway in the City of Petaluma, the
following thatare exposed to the various hazards.analyzed.
Updated use of the Quaternary system has enabled a more accurate accounting of affected urban area impacted by
liquefaction.
2Updated NFIP maps resulted in a more accurate accounting of the increase in"exposure.
2010 Local Hazard?Mitigation_Plan
City of Petaluma Annex 5 August 24,2011
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Exposure.(miles of infrastructure)
i" Roadway Transit Rail
Hazard 2005 2010` 2005 2010 2005 2010
Total Miles of infrastructure 211 225 0 0 5 6
Earthquake Shaking (within highest 211 219 0 10 5 6
two shaking categories) I I •
Liquefaction,Susceptibility(within
moderate, high, or very high 170 180 0 0 5 6
liquefaction susceptibility
Liquefaction Hazard (within CGS 0 0 0 a 0 0
- studyizone)
Earthquake-Induced Landslides 0 0 0 0 0 0
(within CGS study zone)
Earthquake Faulting (within CGS 0 . 0 0 0 0
zone)
Flooding (within 100-yearfloodplain) 1 13 4 0 0 0 1
Flooding (within 500-yearfloodplain) 9 12 0 0 0 1
Landslides (within areas of existing 30 32 0 0 0 1
landslides) _
Wildfires (subject.to high, "very high, 2 2 0 0 0 0
or extreme wildfire threat)
Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Threat € 108 118 0 0 3 3
Dam Inundation (within inundation 0 0 I 0 0 0 0
zone) �.
Tsunamis'no data available. I
Drought* no data available
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Exposure of City-Owned Buildings, Plus Critical Healthcare Facilities and Schools
Finally, the City of Petaluma examined the hazard exposure of critical health care
facilities and schools located within the City of Petaluma city- owned buildings based
on the information on ABAG's site at:
http://quake.abag.ca.gov/rnitigation/pickcrit.html. The City of Petaluma provided a
list of the critical facilities it owns to ABAG ABAG provided a detailed assessment of
the hazard exposure of each of its facilities. The table below illustrates the number of
facilities exposed to the various hazards analyzed.
2010 local Hazard Mitigation Plan •
City of Petaluma Annex b August 24, 2011
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Expdsure (hiii ber'of_facility types) •
Locally 'Locally
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Hospitals Schools owned owned
Hazard bridges and critical
interchanges facilities
2005 2010 2005 2010 2005 2010 2005 2010
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Total Number of
Facilities 1 1 24 35 9 9 46 28
Earthquake Shaking
(within highest two 0 0 5 ' 2, 3 2 3 3
shaking categories)
Liquefaction
Susceptibility (within I.
moderate, high, or 1 1 18 23 ' 9 8 36 20
very high liquefaction i f
susceptibility
Liquefaction Hazard
(within CGS study 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
zone) — -
• Earthquake-Induced
i Landslides (within CGS' 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 • 0
study:zone)
Earthquake.Faulting 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(within CGS zone) #
Flooding (within 100 0 0 0 0 7 2 2
year floodplain)
• Flooding (within 500
0 0 0 0
year floodplain) ' ! 0 0 0 1
Landslides (within
areas of existing 0 '0 2 4 10 3 10 5
landslides) 1
Wildfires (subject to I,
high,,very high, or 10 0 0 0 0 0 ' 0 i 0
extreme wildfire
threat) — {
Wildland-Urban 0 0 10 21 5 5 l 24 14
Interface Fire Threat
Darn Inundation 0 0 0 0 if 0 0 0
2010 Local hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Petaluma Annex 7 August 24,2011
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Tsunamis (within
inundation area]
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Drought • ;
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Repetitive Loss Properties
Based on the'NFIP's records for flood damage claims as of August 31, 2009, a total of
34 properties are listed as repetitive loss properties (i.e. the property owners have
flood damage claims exceeding $1,000 at lease twice in a 10 year period since 1978)
The general locations of these properties are shown in Exhibit C1. However, a
majority of the 34 existing repetitive loss properties, which are primarily located in
the Payran Area neighborhood, have, not filed a claim in the 'past 10 years. This is
largely due to the PetalumaLRiver structural flood control project, the majority of
which has been completed. The City of Petaluma will be working closely with FEMA
and the Insurance S., Inc. Services office to request that the properties in question be
removed from the City's' repetitive loss property list. See Exhibit C2 for list of
repetitive loss locations.
Other Risks
The City of Petaluma plans to continue to work with ABAG to improve the risk
assessment information being compiled by ABAG, including developing ways to assess
how any soft-story'buildings are located in the City.
The City of Petaluma plans to work with ABAG to develop:specific information about
the kind and level of damage to buildings, infrastructure, and critical facilities which
• might result from;any of the hazards previously noted.
National Flood InsuranceProgram
The City of Petaluma has participated in the National Flood Insurance.Program (NFIP)
• since 1983. The City also has participated in the Community Rating System (CRS) since
1995 and is currently class 6.
In 2010 the City, went through a 5 year verification cycle with iSO and updated our
Floodplain Management Plan. We maintained our Class 6 rating. Since that time there
have been no changes in the approved plan but anticipate a change in rating once the
Petaluma River Structural Flood Control Project has been completed. Petaluma Flood
Control data and maps are used to regulate flood hazard areas along with FEMA maps.
The City also enforces the floodplain building regulations through plan review and
inspection. The, largest hurdle the City faces is maintaining trained staff to enforce
and update the program.
2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Petaluma Annex 8 August24, 2011
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which contains development and, open space•policies`and•programs with emphasis is on
The City has a ftoodplain. ordinance and we also use the City'S Gen
enhancing natural;and beneficial area. Refer toeCha -ters'4 and 8-of the hal on
g p e General Plan
which can be found at: http://cityofpetaluma.neticdd/plan general-plan.html.
Mitigation Goals and Objectives
The goal of the ABAG MJ-LHMP'is.to maintain and enhance a disaster-resistant region
by reducing the potential for loss of life, property damage, and environmental
degradation from natural disasters, white accelerating economic recovery in the
aftermath of those disasters. This goal is unchanged from the 2005 Plan and continues
to be the goal of the City of Petaluma in designing;its mitigation program.
The City of Petaluma has historically been impacted primarily by Flood Disasters. We
are Listing here the goals,and objectives pertaining to Flood Plain Management.
The City of Petaluma 2010.Flood Plain Management Plan lists the following goals and
objectives:
• Increase community outreach efforts to local development community by
sponsoring floodplain• management workshops in. conjunction with the State
National Flood Insurance Program Coordinator.
• Continue to train new and update existing City Planning, Building and Public
Works staff on NAP, CRS and City'floodplain management requirements.
• Continue annual stream and creek channel maintenance in accordance with
established City, Sonoma County Water Agency and other regulatory
requirements.
• Secure funding and complete the remaining Petaluma River Flood Control
project. The project is currently scheduled to be completed by summer of 2011.
• Obtain certification from the Army Corps of Engineers for the flood wall and
flood control project; complete acceptance of the project by the City.
• Pursue certification of existing levees that protect the. City's waste water
treatment plant arid wetlands.
• Complete the City''sXP=SWMM model and be cooperating technical partner with
FEMA and the:SCWA.
• Update the City's Flood Insurance Rate Maps once the flood control project is
complete and certified by the Army Corps of Engineers.
• Pursue obtaining an A99 designation, from FEMA, for the Payran area until new
FIRM maps are issued.
• Pursue the acquisition of McNear Peninsula as open space and natural and
beneficial areas. •
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• implement General Plan 2025 policies regarding Petaluma River Corridor
terracing to accommodate a.100-year storm,event, to all extent practicable.
• Coordinate to update the City's PH II Storm Water Management Plan with
requirements of the NAP, CRS and the City ftoodplain ordinance.
2010...Local Hazaid,Mitigation,Plan
City of Petaluma Annex 9 August 24, 2011
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• Coordinate 'flood control and maintenance projects with the Zone 2A Flood
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Advisory Committee.
• Convert the City's benchmark system from NGVP. 1929 to NAVD 1988 to be
consistent with the new FIRMS. Work with the Army Corp of Engineers to dredge
the Petaluma River channel within the new flood control project area to
preserve flood design capacity.
• Monitor and update the City's stream level gauge system and expand as needed
to maximize the use and effectiveness of the data in the operation of the Flood
Alert System.
• Encourage local, State and Federal agencies to fund stream maintenance
programs; pursue grants for increasing flow capacity in conjunction with stream
enhancement projects. Work with the Fire Department to update the telephone
• information hotline and hotification system. Establish, a more effective
distribution system, such as a mailer in the City water bill, notifying residents of
who to contact for flood information. City of Petaluma Floodplain Management
Plan 32 October 4, 2010.
• Continue to pursue and develop higher regulatory standards for designing 1-year
flood event standards. The current standard, which was created by FEMA and is
used within the City of Petaluma, addresses 100-year flood events.
• Mitigation Activities and Priorities
Evaluation of Progress from 2005 Plan
The 2005 LHMP included numerous items that were under study: The information
below lists the 2005 Strategy number, the specific goal of the study, the City
department that undertook the study, the outcome of the study, and whether the
outcome was funded or not funded. -
Strategy #: GOVT-b-14 Department Undertaking Study: Fire Department
Study Objective: Install a warning system with outdoor sirens, coordinating them to
the utmost extent possible with those of neighboring jurisdictions.
Outcome: Our, study revealed that warning sirens are not an effective tool in the
Petaluma Area due to the nature of natural disasters we anticipate here.. Sirens are a
more common warning device for coastal areas.that,have some, but little warning of,
a natural disaster, specifically with tsunamis. In the Petaluma. Area our greatest
natural disaster threats include those with zero warning, such as earthquakes, and
those with a few days warning, such as floods. Our efforts are put into notifying the
public about how to best prepare for these types of disasters before they actually
occur. Following the occurrence of a natural disaster, we use radio, television, and
other media outlets to get our messages to the public.
Outcome Funded/ Not Funded: Not funded.
2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Petaluma Annex 10 August 24, 2011
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Strategy #: GOVT-13,15 Department Undertaking Study: Fire Department
Study Objective: Conduct.periodictests of the outdoor sirens'installed as part of the
alerting and warning systems, no less frequently than once per month. •
Outcome: See GOVT-b-1.4.
Outcome Funded/ Not Funded: Not funded.
Strategy #: GOVT-b-22. Department Undertaking Study: Fire Department
Study Objective: Investigate the use of phone based warning systems for selective
geographic areas.
Outcome: This system is currently in effect and has been used to broadcast messages
to specific geographic areas during recent flood emergencies. This system is
coordinated throughout Operation Area (Sonoma. County) Emergency Operations
Center.
Outcome Funded/ Not Funded: Funded and implemented at the County level.
Note: All other studies listed in the'2005 Mitigation Strategies were not funded.
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Future Mitigation Actions and Priorities
As a participant in the 2010 ABAG multi-jurisdictional planning process, the staff of
the City of Petaluma helped in the development and review of the comprehensive list
of mitigation strategies in the overall multi-jurisdictional plan. The decision on
priority was made based on a variety of criteria, not simply on an economic cost-
benefit analysis. These. criteria include being technically and administratively
feasible, politically acceptable, 'socially appropriate, legal, economically sound, and
not harmful to the environment and 'our heritage. The draft Strategies will be
provided to the City Council for adoption pending approval of this CHMP by FEMA.
Ongoing Mitigation Strategy Programs
The 2010 Mitigation Strategies listed as high can be found at:
http://www.abag.ca.govibayarea/eomaps/mitigattonlstrategy.html. No new
strategies have been identified from the 2005 HMP-Strategies for City of Petaluma.
The following 2010 Strategies have been ranked as a "high" Priority:
GOVT a-7-Periodically assess the need for new or relocated fire or police stations and
other emergency facilities, changes in staffing levels, and additional or updated
supplies, equipment, technologies and in service training classes •
GOVT a-9 - Develop and maintain a system of interoperable communications for first
responders from cities, counties, special districts, state and federal agencies.
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City of Petaluma Annex 11 August 24, 2011
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`The 2010 HMO shows alliExisting strategies are underfunded: No'new studies are being •
undertaken at this time..
Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms •
The City of Petaluma has several planning mechanisms which help create a more
disaster-resistant region. The-list;below highlights those programs, the list is found at:
http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/egmaps/mitigation/strategy.htmt.
The list highlights those programs identified as Existing Programs in the Mitigation
Strategy spreadsheet. Others are on-going that are currently underfunded. It is the
City's priority to find additional funding to sustain these oh-going programs over time.
The City has a Safety Element in its General Plan that includes a discussion of fire,
earthquake, flooding and landslide hazards. This Ptan will be adopted as an
implementation appendix to the Safety Element following final review by FEMA. In
addition, the City enforces the requirements of the California Environmental Quality
•
Act (CEQA), which, since 1988, requires mitigation for identified natural hazards. The
City has used these pre-existing programs as a basis for identifying gaps that may lead
to disaster vulnerabilities in order to work on ways to address these risks through
mitigation.
Plan Update Process
As required by the Disaster'Mitigation Act of 2000, the City of Petaluma will update
this plan Annex at least once every five years, by participating in a multi-agency
effort with ABAG and other agencies to develop a multi-jurisdictional plan. To that
end, the Public Works Project Manager will.contact ABAG four years after this plan is
approved to ensure that ABAG intends to undertake-the update process. If so, the City
again will participate in the multi-jurisdictional plan. In the event ABAG is unwilling
or unable to act as the lead agency in the multi-jurisdictional effort, other agencies
will be contacted, including the County's Office of Emergency Services. ABAG
counties should then work together to identify another regional forum for developing
a multi-jurisdictional plan.
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The public will continue to be involved whenever the plan is updated, as appropriate,
during the monitoring and evaluation process. Prior to adoption of updates, the City
will provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the updates. A public
notice will be posted on various technologies to announce the comment period and
meeting logistics.
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2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Petaluma Annex 12 August 24, 2011
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Mitigation Plan Points ofContact
Primary Contact
Name: Larry Zimmer
Title: Capital improvement Manager
Mailing Address: 11 English Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
Telephone: 707-776-3674
Email: Lzimmer @ci.petaluma.ca.us
Alternate Point of Contact
Name: Fleming Nguyen
Title: Senior Civil Engineer
Mailing Address: 11 English Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
Telephone: 707-778-4312
Email: fnguyen @ci.petaluma.ca.us
2010 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Petaluma Annex 13 August 24, 2011
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