Title
Staff Report for Adoption of the San Leandro Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 2010 Annex
Staffreport
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council hold a public hearing and take testimony on the proposed adoption of the San Leandro Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 2010 Annex.
BACKGROUND
The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and the guidelines established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) require that local jurisdictions identify hazards, risks and vulnerabilities as they relate to disasters. In 2005, the City completed and adopted the San Leandro Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, identifying those hazards, risks and vulnerabilities in this community. FEMA asks that jurisdictions update those plans every five years, and in 2009 the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) implemented a program to assist all agencies within the region with the updating of that plan.
Analysis
Disaster mitigation project funding and recovery funding may be dependent upon a local jurisdiction's participation in the Hazard Mitigation Plan process. Therefore, City staff collaborated with ABAG to update the City's Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan into a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, following FEMA's guidelines. More than 90 cities, counties and special districts participated in ABAG's Plan update process.
The goal of the Local Hazard Mitigation Process was to develop a disaster-resistant region, reducing the potential loss of life, property damage and environmental degradation from natural disasters, while speeding economic recovery from disasters.
The Plan updates focus on the most common natural disasters in our region - earthquakes, weather related hazards, wildland fires and landslides. Each jurisdiction was evaluated for potential risks from these hazards, and mitigation strategies were identified. It should be noted that in many categories within the Plan, the City of San Leandro already met or exceeded ABAG's recommendations for mitigation strategies through our community education programs, infrastructure improvement projects, and planning efforts.
Participation in this process has made the City eligible for future Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding, Pre-Disaster Mitigation funding, Flood Grants, and was necessary for us to comply with FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) to allow property owners access to discounted flood insurance.
In 2010, staff submitted the City's Drafted Plan to ABAG and awaited FEMA's review and comment. However, due to a backlog of reviews, FEMA asks that local jurisdictions adopt their Plans before the end of 2011. Any suggested changes or modifications coming from FEMA may be incorporated into the Plan at a later date.
Previous Actions
· A Public Hearing was held on September 9, 2009 to receive community input on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan draft mitigation strategies.
Summary of Public Outreach Efforts
· Opportunity to comment on the Plan Update has been advertised in the San Leandro Times and on the City's website.
ATTACHMENTS
· Drafted Annex to 2010 Association of Bay Area Governments Local Hazard Mitigation Plan - Taming Natural Disasters
PREPARED BY: Kathy Ornelas, Community Relations Representative, City Manager's Office