For City Council Meeting March 12, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: David N. Carmany
FROM: Brian Park, Fire Chief
Title
Consideration of updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and updated Emergency Operations Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 8190 approving the updated Rialto Local Hazard Mitigation Plan,
2. Adopt Rialto Emergency Operations Plan, and
3. Authorize staff to maintain these plans consistent with local, state, and federal emergency planning policies.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this report is to seek City Council approval of an update the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for the City of Rialto. Both plans are crucial components of the city's emergency preparedness efforts and require periodic updates to remain relevant and effective. The proposed updates are in alignment with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements and reflect the evolving risks and needs of our community.
The LHMP and EOP serve as essential guides for the City's response to and recovery from various hazards, including natural disasters, technological emergencies, and other crises. These plans outline strategies for risk reduction, response coordination, and resource allocation, ensuring a coordinated and effective approach to emergency management within our jurisdiction.
The LHMP identifies hazards that may affect the City, assesses their potential impact, and establishes mitigation strategies to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience. It provides a framework for prioritizing mitigation projects and accessing funding opportunities to implement risk reduction measures.
The EOP outlines the organizational structure, roles, and responsibilities of City departments and partner agencies during emergencies. It delineates procedures for incident management, communication protocols, resource management, and recovery efforts to ensure a coordinated and efficient response to crises.
The proposed updates to the LHMP and EOP incorporate lessons learned from previous incidents, changes in hazard profiles, and best practices in emergency management. Key components of the updates include:
Hazard Assessment: Review and update of hazard profiles based on the latest data and analysis to accurately reflect current risks facing the City.
Mitigation Strategies: Identification of new mitigation actions and updates to existing strategies to address emerging hazards and vulnerabilities.
Stakeholder Engagement: Collaboration with community stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, to ensure the plans reflect community priorities and concerns.
Plan Integration: Alignment of the LHMP and EOP with other City plans and initiatives, such as land use planning, infrastructure development, and environmental efforts.
Training and Exercises: Development of training programs and exercises to familiarize City staff and partner agencies with the updated plans and test their effectiveness in simulated emergency scenarios.
Updating the LHMP and EOP offers several benefits to the City and its residents, including enhanced preparedness, compliance, and resilience.
Enhanced Preparedness: Ensuring the City is well-prepared to mitigate, respond to, and recover from a wide range of hazards and emergencies.
Compliance: Demonstrating compliance with FEMA requirements for hazard mitigation planning and emergency management, thereby maintaining eligibility for federal assistance and grants.
Resilience: Strengthening the resilience of our community by identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before disasters occur, thereby reducing the impact on lives, property, and infrastructure.
The LHMP and EOP are foundational documents in Rialto's proactive approach to emergency preparedness and response. As a city situated in a region prone to various natural and man-made hazards, including earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and industrial accidents, Rialto recognizes the paramount importance of being well-prepared to mitigate risks and effectively manage crises.
Historically, Rialto has faced numerous hazards, some of which have resulted in significant damage and disruption to the community. By actively updating and maintaining the LHMP and EOP, Rialto endeavors to learn from past experiences and proactively address emerging threats. These plans serve as living documents, evolving with changing circumstances, technological advancements, and lessons learned from real-world events.
Furthermore, the process of updating and adopting these plans is not merely a formality but rather a strategic investment in the city's resilience and ability to thrive in the face of adversity. Beyond regulatory compliance, the LHMP and EOP provide a framework for fostering collaboration among government agencies, community organizations, businesses, and residents. Through community engagement and participation, Rialto aims to build a culture of preparedness and resilience, where individuals and institutions are empowered to take proactive measures to safeguard lives, property, and the environment.
In essence, the adoption of the updated LHMP and EOP by the City Council represents a major milestone in Rialto's ongoing efforts to enhance its capacity to withstand and recover from disasters. By prioritizing preparedness, Rialto is not only fulfilling its legal obligations but also demonstrating the City’s unwavering commitment to protecting the safety, security, and prosperity of its community now and into the future.
On June 22, 2022, the City Council awarded a contract to the firm Jacob Green and Associates (JGA) to update or develop the City’s emergency preparedness plans, including the Rialto LHMP and the Rialto EOP. Staff worked closely with JGA to bring these two preparedness plans current and ready for City Council adoption.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The Rialto LHMP is mandated by the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, adhering to the guidelines outlined in the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Handbook and Policies. This plan will serve as a blueprint for mitigating risks associated with various hazards, ranging from natural disasters like earthquakes and floods to human-made hazards such as industrial accidents. Key point: By having an LHMP approved by the City Council, Rialto gains eligibility to access pre-disaster hazard mitigation grants and post-disaster recovery funding, ensuring financial support for mitigation efforts and expedited recovery in the aftermath of calamitous events.
Similarly, the Rialto EOP is mandated under California Government Code Chapters 8569 and 8610 and aligns with the FEMA Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101. The EOP outlines the city's coordinated response to emergencies, facilitating effective communication and resource allocation during crisis situations. With City Council's adoption of the EOP, Rialto can seamlessly integrate its emergency response efforts with other governmental agencies, ensuring a cohesive and efficient response to disasters. Additionally, the adoption of the EOP enables Rialto to both receive and provide emergency resources as needed, enhancing the city's resilience and ability to manage emergencies effectively.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The proposed action does not meet the definition of a project as defined by Section 15378 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A “Project” means the whole of an action, which as a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and excludes the following:
1) Continuing administrative or maintenance activities, such as purchases for supplies, personnel-related actions, general policy, and procedure making.
2) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
The City of Rialto General Plan establishes various guiding principles, goals, and objectives through which the City looks to improve the community and protect the quality of life for our residents. This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 1A in the General Plan and specific Goals within the 2023 General Plan Safety Element:
Goal 5-2: Create a more flood-safe community through development standards and infrastructure improvements.
Goal 5-5: Minimize impacts to public health, safety, and welfare as a result of seismic and geologic hazards.
Goal 5-6: Assess critical infrastructure and maintenance standards and make
improvements to help the community withstand current and forecasted hazard
events.
Goal 5-7: Provide culturally relevant preparedness resources, hazard education, and
emergency notifications.
Goal 5-8: Ensure that first responders and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) have adequate capacity to respond to hazard events.
Goal 5-9: Include provisions for vulnerable populations in emergency response procedures and recovery efforts.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report in form.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact:
There is no impact to the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact:
There is no impact to the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
This action does not trigger a requirement for a business license.