AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: GRISSEL CHAVEZ
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
THOMAS BEKELE
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
REBECCA LOPEZ
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR
SUBJECT:
title
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER’S PROCLAMATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO 2024 FEBRUARY WINTER STORMS AND AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 GENERAL FUND UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE FOR IMMEDIATE SHORT-TERM REPAIRS
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Summary:
On February 4, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency for eight counties in Southern California, including Los Angeles County, as a series of winter storms began impacting much of the State with high winds, damaging rain, and heavy snowfall. As of February 6, 2024, the City of Signal Hill experienced significant damage to the Panorama Promenade and Molino Avenue and 20th Street. California Government Code 8630, et. Seq., and Signal Hill Municipal Code, Chapter 2, Section 2.76.060, provide the City Manager, as Director of Emergency Services, the authority to proclaim the existence of a local emergency if the City Council is not in session, which must be proclaimed within 10 days of an event. The City Council will consider adopting a resolution ratifying the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency in response to the February 2024 winter storms, made by the City Manager as the Director of Emergency Services, on February 7, 2024. The City Council will also consider adopting a proposed Resolution authorizing appropriations from the Fiscal Year 2023-24 General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance/Capital Improvement Projects Reserve fund for needed immediate short-term repairs in the amount of $800,000.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 1 Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability and resilience.
Goal No. 2 Community Safety: Maintain community safety by supporting public safety services and increasing emergency preparedness.
Goal No. 4 Infrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical infrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces.
recommendation
Recommendations:
1. Adopt the resolution, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, RATIFYING THE PROCLAMATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY BY THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, AS DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
2. Adopt the resolution, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND AUTHORIZING BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 FOR THE EMERGENCY REPAIRS RESULTING FROM THE 2024 WINTER STORM DAMAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $800,000.
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Fiscal Impact:
The City’s preliminary estimate for the storm damage at the Panorama Promenade, and Molino Avenue and 20th Street locations is approximately $800,000 for immediate short-term repairs. The Public Works Department is actively collaborating with its engineering firms and contractors to identify a permanent repair. Staff will track all related costs and pursue State and Federal reimbursement for all City costs incurred. Given the urgent need to commence repairs, staff recommends appropriating funds from the City’s General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance/Capital Improvement Projects Reserve for these expenditures. There is sufficient fund balance to cover the costs of the temporary repairs.
Background:
On February 4, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency for eight counties in Southern California, including Los Angeles County, as a series of winter storms began impacting much of the State with high winds, damaging rain, and heavy snowfall. California Government Code 8630, et. Seq., and Signal Hill Municipal Code (SHMC), Chapter 2, Section 2.76.060, provides the City Manager, as Director of Emergency Services, the authority to proclaim the existence of a local emergency if the City Council is not in session, which must be proclaimed within 10 days of an event. The City Manager proclaimed the emergency declaration on February 7, 2024. The SHMC requires that the City Council subsequently ratify the City Manager’s proclamation within 7 days, or the proclamation shall have no further force or effect.
Analysis:
As of February 6, 2024, the City experienced rainstorm damage (summarized below) resulting in conditions that impact the safety of persons and property, which are anticipated to be beyond the City’s control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City, requiring extraordinary forces and action.
Damage to Panorama Promenade
The Panorama Promenade experienced significant slope failures in two localized areas, resulting in the closure of the walking trail as of February 6, 2024. Public Works staff met with the geotechnical consultant on site to evaluate the damaged conditions and provide a recommendation for immediate short-term repairs. Once a determination has been made, staff will secure a contractor to begin the work as soon as possible under emergency conditions, as allowed by State law. The City Council’s action to ratify the emergency repair work under the emergency situation would be scheduled accordingly. Staff anticipates the trail will remain closed for a minimum of 6-8 weeks until the City can complete the repairs.
Damage to Molino Avenue and 20th Street
The intersection of Molino Avenue and 20th Street experienced slope failure and erosion, resulting in a damaged hillside which must be stabilized. The City partially closed the road while ensuring the adjacent homes retain vehicular access to their driveways. Public Works staff and their consultants are evaluating the damaged conditions and developing a recommendation for immediate repairs. Once a determination has been made, staff will secure a contractor to begin the work as soon as possible under emergency conditions, as allowed by State law. The City Council’s action to ratify the emergency repair work would be scheduled accordingly. Staff anticipates the section of the roadway will be closed during the repair process.
City Manager’s Proclamation of Emergency
On February 7, 2024, the City Manager, in his role as the Director of Emergency Services, signed a proclamation of a local emergency in response to the February 2024 winter storm activity (Attachment A). The City Manager finds that a threat to public health and safety now exists in the City of Signal Hill due to winter storms, resulting in, among other things, high winds, prolonged periods of heavy rains, land movement incidents, pathway closures in hillside areas, the potential for significant debris flows, and urban flooding. The National Weather Service has forecasted additional and continuing storms related to this series of atmospheric river systems threatening the Los Angeles County region. The coordination, collaboration, and the combined forces of different jurisdictions are imperatively needed to effectively respond to and recover from these and likely forecasted severe winter storms.
The City Council’s adoption of the resolution is necessary to enable the City’s to seek State aid related to the damage experienced in Signal Hill as a result of the recent storm. If the City Council approves the resolution by February 14, 2024, staff would send a copy of this Proclamation to the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, and the Director of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The City’s Emergency Management Coordinator would work with the State and County to submit damage estimates and initiate a process to seek cost recovery for the City’s extraordinary costs and efforts. Should the Federal Government also declare an emergency for the State of California, these projects may potentially be eligible for additional funding under the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
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Sharon del Rosario
Attachments:
A. Emergency Proclamation
B. Resolution Ratifying the Emergency Proclamation
C. Resolution for Budget Appropriation